The premier container logistics event for the region helps set the agenda for Gulf shipping and port developments London - This year’s TOC Middle East event has been heralded as a huge success. More than 500 participants attended two days of conference sessions and technical workshops, in addition to the co-located TOC Middle East which had more than 50 exhibiting companies at Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, Dubai, UAE, on 8-9 December. Opening the Plenary conference session, Mr Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, UAE Region, DP World, pointed to the growing capacity in liner shipping as larger container vessels enter numerous trade lanes. This is happening against a backdrop of weak global trade. To counter this, many shipping lines are temporarily removing capacity in response to sluggish market demand, principally on Asia-Europe trades.   Globally port handling growth is expected to slow to 2.2% in 2015 (from 5.3% in 2014) before a slight rebound in 2016 to 3.3%. However, Middle East ports are proving more resilient than the global average.   Middle East port throughput is estimated to grow by 5.1% in 2015, with projected capacity in the region of 55 million TEU in place by 2020. Average utilization remains high at over 70%, with a number of expansions in facilities either planned or already underway. This impressive performance is being driven by high consumption growth in Middle East economies and robust industrial growth.   DP World’s UAE region ports, including the flagship facility of Jebel Ali, remain ambitious, he continued. In the 12 months to September 2015, the region handled 11.9 million TEU, up 4% year-on-year. Mr Al Muallem was followed by His Excellency Musaad Al Drees, Director General of Saudi Ports Authority. Mr Al Drees outlined the Saudi Ports Authority vision for establishing an effective ports system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that is at once competitive and capable of responding to market changes, as well as enhancing the economic growth of the Kingdom.   The principal message he conveyed was that the Saudi Ports Authority will become the main player in connecting the national economy with the global market by providing productive, safe and environmentally sound facilities, employing nationally skilled manpower motivated to achieve high performance and financial sustainability.   The Authority has developed Master Plans for several of the Kingdom’s ports, and Mr Al Drees then went to outline the basics of these plans for the ports of Jazan and Duba, Yanbu Commercial Port, Jubail Commercial Port, and King Abdul-Aziz Port Dammam. The final keynote speaker of the opening session was Mr Martijn Van de Linde, Chief Executive Officer, Abu Dhabi Terminals.   Since opening in 2012, Abu Dhabi Terminals’ Khalifa Port has been growing at double digit rates and has doubled the container volumes handled over that period. Mr Van de Linde pointed out that GDP in the Gulf Cooperation Council region has grown significantly during the past decade, totalling 11.8% between 2004 and 2014.   He then outlined some factors that could have a major impact on the region’s port industry over the coming years. The ending of international sanctions against Iran is a potential game-changer for Gulf market growth, he said. The likely outcome is increasing numbers of direct connections to the Iran market.   Running parallel is the development of the rail network across the GCC which could impact shipping line dynamics probably reducing the number of feeders. The rail network could be an opportunity for most ports to expand their hinterlands, but it may slightly reduce the volumes of transhipment from main hubs, he stated. Finally, the recent growth in container throughput in the Upper Gulf could lead to the creation of new direct deepsea routes to Kuwait.   Following the opening Plenary conference session the accompanying TOC Middle East exhibition was officially opened by His Excellency Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of DP World, accompanied by His Excellency Musaad Al Drees.   Next year, TOC Middle East relocates to Oman taking place on 7-8 December 2106. For further information, please visit www.tocevents-me.com