1425 Ah, the Kingdom's ports handled about 120.8 million tons of exported and imported goods with the exclusion of crude oil. Exports constituted 63.75 percent of the total handled goods which included refined petroleum products, petrochemicals and industrial materials. The imports which amounted to 43.5 million tons included foodstuffs , building materials, raw materials and consumer goods. The aforesaid report noted that the ports authority launched in 1417/1418 AH its new working program which was based on enabling the private sector to contribute to the management of the ports in line with the Royal decree issued on 6/11/1417 AH. The report said the Kingdom's major ports received 10, 684 ships in 1423-1424 AH. The Islamic port of Jeddah received 4, 438 ships, 41.5 percent of the total number, King Abdulaziz Port of Dammam received 2137 ships, 20.1 percent of the total number, King Fahd Industrial Port of Yanbu received 1,483 ships, while King Fahd Industrial port of Jubail received 1, 247 ships. The ports authority has been giving big attention to the service and comfort of the pilgrims and passengers arriving or departing via the ports. More than two million passengers either arrived or departed via the Kingdom's ports in 1424-1425 AH. Meanwhile, the report noted that the complexes of King Fahd for the maintenance and repair of ships at Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz Port include docks for the repair and maintenance of ships. They include integrated workshops and centers for the training of the Saudis on maintenance of ships.
