Seatrade-Maritime: Jebel Ali volumes plummet 90.1% in second quarter

Published by Seatrade-Maritime

DP World’s first half 2026 results show some of the impact on the UAE-based port group from disruption in the Strait of Hormuz as second quarter volumes at its flagship Jebel Ali terminals fell by 90.1% year-on-year.

The port handled 374,000 teu in the second quarter, compared to 3.8m in the second quarter 2025. The decline follows a 30.5% year-on-year drop in throughput in Jebel Ali in the first quarter.

The group’s global container throughput fell by 22.0% on a like-for-like basis in the first half, highlighting Jebel Ali’s scale within DP World’s portfolio. Excluding Jebel Ali, throughput was up 3.6% on a like-for-like basis.

The flagship UAE port remains fully operational and has sustained no damage during the Middle East conflict, but the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has cut vessel traffic into and out of the Gulf.

DP World’s profit fell by 39.1% in the first half of the year to $585m, despite revenue increasing by 13.1% to $12.7bn.

DP World group chairman, H.E. Essa Kazim, said: “In the UAE, we are expanding our gateway network with two new terminals in Fujairah, extending the Jebel Ali ecosystem through an integrated supply chain. This will provide cargo owners with greater flexibility, more choice and enhanced supply chain resilience, while reinforcing our confidence in the UAE’s future as a leading global trade and logistics hub.

“While the near-term environment remains uncertain, we remain confident in the medium to long-term outlook for global trade. Supported by a high -quality portfolio , disciplined capital allocation and our integrated trade platform, DP World is well positioned to capture future growth opportunities and further strengthen its role in global supply chains.