DP World: Breakbulk 'Most Promising Sector'

A senior executive at global port operator DP World described breakbulk as one of trade’s “most promising sectors” at Breakbulk Middle East taking place in Abu Dhabi this week.

Abdulla Bin Damithan, commercial director - UAE Region at DP World, said that while the sector possesses its own share of challenges for 2018, the overall outlook was “encouraging” and that breakbulk remained a “source of opportunity for the region.”

To aid growth he urged industry in the region to “work together” to promote the industry and to further simplify the supply chain.

Regionally, Bin Damithan said, the market was looking at recovery. Growth in infrastructure investment in Dubai in particular was being driven by construction for Expo 2020. “DP World is preparing to handle an increase of project cargo in connection with the Expo,” he said.

Predicted growth in breakbulk and roll-on, roll-off cargoes in the region has seen DP World expand its dedicated facilities at Jebel Ali, extending the quay, yard and storage facilities. Jebel Ali operates 27 general cargo berths with a storage spread of 1.4 million square meters.

“DP World continues to focus on breakbulk and we continue to raise our benchmarks,” Bin Damithan said. “We will continue to invest when and where our customer needs us. ‘Future ready’ is the motor that has driven our strategy from the beginning.”

Photo: Abdulla Bin Damithan at an earlier speech at the ninth Global Supply Chain & Logistics Summit 2016.