Oman: Port of Salalah terminal expansion to help Raysut Cement

Archirodon Construction is building a new general cargo terminal (GCT) at Oman's Port of Salalah, leading to a number of major investors expressing interest in shipping dry and liquid bulk commodities from the new facility. The project, which also includes a liquid jetty at the port, is expected to be completed in 1H14.

At present, the port continues to handle significant volumes for local customers such as Raysut Cement. Major commodities of trade at the GCT include limestone, methanol and cement. GCT is expected to continue to deliver increases in volumes as several potential customers, especially in dry bulk commodities, are expected to begin operations in the near future.

One of the strategic aims of the Port of Salalah is to encourage companies to add value to imported bulk and break bulk products to generate additional re-export business for the container terminal (CT) and the GCT. Direct access to global markets, with proximity to the rapidly-developing markets of the Middle East and north Africa, east Africa and India have attracted a number of international companies to begin operating at the Salalah hub.