Sokhna Port is Egypt’s Gateway

DP World Egypt marked a significant milestone last week with the arrival of the Energos Eskimo at Ain Sokhna Port, spearheading a series of three strategic maritime operations that highlight the port’s expanding role in advancing trade, energy and tourism throughout Egypt and the wider region.

The vessel, a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) operated by New Fortress Energy (NFE), has docked for a series of specialised technical upgrades, including modifications to its high-pressure gas manifold. These enhancements are part of its preparations for a forthcoming call at SUMED Port, where it will begin injecting natural gas into Egypt’s national grid. The project underscored Sokhna Port’s capacity to support complex energy operations and its growing role in servicing the global gas industry.

The FSRU vessel directly contributes to Egypt’s energy resilience, ensuring a stable supply of natural gas to meet growing domestic demand.

The Energos Eskimo operation was one of three high-impact achievements completed within the span of a single week, demonstrating the port’s operational agility and its increasing contribution to Egypt’s industrial and maritime development. Whether supporting energy, bulk cargo, or tourism, Sokhna continues to strengthen its position as a fully integrated hub for logistics, trade and passenger flow.

Mohammad Shihab, Chief Executive Officer, DP World Egypt, said: “DP World Egypt continues to prove its ability to manage diverse vessel types with efficiency and precision, from LNG carriers and dry bulk ships to cruise liners. Sokhna Port’s strategic location and advanced infrastructure make it a vital connector between Egypt, East and North Africa, Asia and beyond, supporting both trade flows and the country’s economic development goals.”

Largest-Ever Iron Ore Shipment

Also, this week, Sokhna Port welcomed the Berge Kuju, a 300-metre dry bulk vessel arriving from Brazil with 180,008 tonnes of iron ore destined for Ezz Steel. Marking the largest iron ore shipment ever received at an Egyptian port, the cargo was efficiently discharged using the port’s deep-water berths and high-capacity mobile harbour cranes, reaffirming DP World’s capability to manage large-scale industrial imports with speed and efficiency.

The delivery forms part of a long-term strategic agreement and supports more than 6 million tonnes of annual iron ore throughput at Sokhna, positioning the port as a key enabler of Egypt’s manufacturing and industrial ambitions.

Return of Aroya

Rounding out the week’s achievements, Sokhna Port also welcomed the Aroya cruise ship on its second scheduled visit under an annual agreement with Cruise Saudi. The vessel carried 2,300 passengers, with disembarkation and customs clearance completed seamlessly – further strengthening Sokhna’s position as a rising hub in the regional cruise tourism landscape. This growing influx of cruise passengers stimulates Egypt’s local economy, benefitting transport, hospitality and retail businesses in the surrounding region.

Mohammad Shihab added, “Our continued investments in terminal capacity and integrated logistics solutions are enabling Egypt to support more advanced and diversified maritime operations, from heavy industry to tourism.”

DP World Egypt remains committed to long-term investment in Egypt’s trade and logistics landscape. The $80 million Sokhna Logistics Park, now nearing completion, will further enhance the company’s ability to deliver seamless, multimodal supply chain solutions to local and global markets. By improving access to trade infrastructure and reducing logistical bottlenecks, the park is expected to attract foreign investment and boost Egypt’s export competitiveness.

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CMA CGM Group to acquire 35% stake in Dry Port

Following French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Egypt, and in the presence of H.E. Kamel El Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Transport and Industry, the CMA CGM Group, a global player in maritime, land, air, and logistics solutions, officially signed a strategic partnership agreement with October Dry Port (ODP), marking a significant milestone in advancing Egypt’s logistics infrastructure and supply chain capabilities.

Through a shareholding participation of 35% and a management agreement, the CMA CGM Group will become an active operational partner in the activities and development of the logistics and rail platform  of October Dry Port. The Group will bring its expertise in managing inland terminals while providing reliable and cost-efficient services to all customers. The completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

The agreement was signed by Christine Cabau Woehrel, Executive Vice-President Assets and Operations of the CMA CGM Group, and Eng. Ahmed Elsewedy, President & CEO of Elsewedy Electric, during a ceremony attended by His Excellency Egypt’s Minister of Transport, Kamel El-Wazir as well as senior officials from both entities. This collaboration establishes a direct partnership between CMA CGM and ODP to enhance port operations, optimize cargo movement, and provide seamless logistics services to customers in Egypt’s expanding industrial zones.

October Dry Port, Egypt’s first dry port and the first public-private partnership (PPP) project in the Egyptian transport sector under the EBRD Green Cities program, was developed, built, and operated by Elsewedy Electric in partnership with the General Authority for Land and Dry Ports (GALDP). The project was funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and officially commenced operations in November 2023. Recognized for its commitment to sustainability, the dry port was awarded the “Best Sustainable Infrastructure Project” for its environmentally conscious design, energy-efficient operations, and alignment with Egypt’s green transformation strategy.

Strategically located in the heart of the New Industrial Area in 6th of October City, ODP is directly connected to all of Egypt’s seaports and serves as a critical logistics hub, facilitating faster cargo clearance, reducing seaport congestion, and supporting Egypt’s growing industrial and export ecosystem.

Through this partnership, CMA CGM will leverage ODP’s state-of-the-art facilities to serve its expanding customer base across Greater Cairo and Upper Egypt, providing integrated inland transport, customs clearance, and advanced logistics services. Already operating the Tahya Misr container terminal at the Port of Alexandria and the new terminal of Sokhna which will open early next year, the CMA CGM Group further strengthens its strategic positioning in Egypt, the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, especially through innovative and sustainable intermodal solutions. The CMA CGM Group will offer regular round trip rail services between the major seaports of Alexandria and Ain Sokhna to the Great Cairo area, boosting the competitivity of intermodal solution for Egyptian customers.

During the signing ceremony, H.E. Kamel El Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Transport affirmed that Egypt is open to cooperation with all international companies, including CMA CGM, which has a distinguished strategic partnership with the Egyptian side through its management and operation of the “Tahya Misr” multipurpose terminal at Alexandria Port. This terminal was inaugurated by H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in June 2023 and currently plays a vital role in maritime transport, global trade, and transit trade. The Minister also noted the cooperation in one of the terminals at Sokhna Port through CMA CGM’s partnership with a global alliance, inviting CMA CGM to inject further investments into Egypt, especially given the country’s promising investment climate.

Christine Cabau Woehrel stated: “The CMA CGM Group values a lot this new partnership with Elsewedy on the October Dry Port logistics platform. This is a unique opportunity to foster the development of low-emission intermodal solutions in Egypt through efficient rail connections. This new investment confirms the Group’s long-term commitment to Egyptian supply chain growth. It combines beautifully our worldwide maritime network to and from Egypt, our investment in the terminals of Alexandria and Sokhna, with the capacity to offer door to door efficient and competitive solutions to our Egyptian customers, opening a new more sophisticated vision of Egyptian supply chain development.”

Ahmed Elsewedy added: “Welcoming CMA CGM as a partner is a major step forward in positioning ODP as a national and regional logistics hub. Our shared vision for sustainability and efficiency makes this collaboration even more impactful.”

This agreement reinforces Egypt’s position as a regional logistics gateway and supports the country’s broader goals of promoting industrial growth, sustainable development, and global trade connectivity.

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