The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has launched the Red Sea Express container service at King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu.
The Saudi-flagged vessel Folk Jubail, owned by national carrier Folk Maritime, made its maiden call under the new service, carrying the first container shipment in partnership with SABIC and Red Sea Gateway Terminal.
The service provides a capacity of 1,100 TEUs, aimed at supporting container movement and improving operational connectivity across Red Sea trade routes. It is expected to contribute to enhanced port operations and increased cargo handling efficiency.
The launch is part of Mawani’s ongoing cooperation with regional and international shipping lines. It aligns with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which focuses on strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a logistics and investment hub, increasing non-oil exports, and supporting investment in the transport sector.
The Red Sea Express service will operate coastal shipping between Jeddah Islamic Port and King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu. It will also connect these ports with Aqaba Port in Jordan and Ain Sokhna Port in Egypt.
The service supports direct shipping routes for national products, increases container throughput at Saudi ports, facilitates import flows from international ports, and improves regional trade connectivity.
King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu is one of Saudi Arabia’s main industrial ports and the largest Red Sea port for handling crude oil, refined petroleum products, and petrochemicals.
The port is located along a key international shipping route connecting the Americas, Europe, and the Far East via the Suez Canal and the Bab Al-Mandab Strait.
It has a handling capacity of up to 210 million tonnes. The port continues to serve as an important logistics and export hub for the Kingdom’s industrial and energy sectors.
