General cargo volumes handled at the Port of Salalah — Oman’s principal logistics hub on the Indian Ocean — rose 17 per cent year-on-year to a record 26.4 million tonnes in 2025, up from 22.6 million tonnes in 2024, driven largely by robust exports of industrial minerals such as gypsum and limestone.
Braik bin Musallam Al Amri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Salalah Port Services Co SAOG, said the General Cargo Terminal achieved its highest-ever throughput despite global challenges. “Against all challenges, the General Cargo Terminal achieved a record volume of 26.4 million metric tonnes,” he said in the company’s 2025 Annual Report. “The growth was driven mainly by dry bulk — gypsum and limestone — where demand remains firmly on an upward trajectory.”
Al Amri indicated that volumes are projected to rise further in 2026, supported by multiple throughput-enhancement initiatives. While overall general cargo volumes are expected to remain stable, dry bulk commodities are set to continue underpinning growth. Strong demand from construction and manufacturing sectors in India and Southeast Asia is expected to sustain export momentum.
The port is also preparing for a structural shift in the gypsum export value chain as Minerals Trading Oman SAOC (MTO) assumes the role of exclusive exporter of gypsum. MTO, a wholly owned subsidiary of Minerals Development Oman SAOC, has been established as the dedicated commercial and marketing arm for Oman’s mineral output, overseeing aggregation, marketing, sales and exports on behalf of MDO’s portfolio companies and other local producers.
In line with this mandate, MTO is expected to take sole responsibility for gypsum exports by June 2026. “We are working closely with all stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition,” Al Amri noted.
Additional growth is anticipated from higher breakbulk volumes and increased activity at the port’s Container Freight Station (CFS). Total cargo volumes are projected to surpass 2025 levels by the end of 2026, he added.
On the container front, the port handled 4.3 million TEUs in 2025, compared with approximately 3.3 million TEUs in 2024. The increase was supported by the launch of the Gemini Cooperation between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, positioning Salalah as a key global hub within the network.
Al Amri said any improvement in maritime traffic flows through the Red Sea and Suez Canal — disrupted for nearly two years amid the Gaza conflict — would further boost container volumes.
“With the container terminal upgrade now completed, we are fully equipped to accommodate the Gemini Network — the global vessel-sharing alliance between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd — further strengthening Salalah’s role as a strategic transshipment hub,” he said.
Financially, the port delivered a strong performance in 2025. Consolidated revenue rose 28 per cent year-on-year to RO 89.4 million. EBITDA climbed to RO 27.8 million, improving the margin to 31 per cent from 22 per cent in 2024. Net profit increased to RO 7.3 million, compared with RO 2.3 million a year earlier, reflecting enhanced operational efficiency and higher throughput volumes.
