The ports of Haifa and Ashdod are forecast to handle a combined 3.5 million TEU by the time ongoing expansion works are completed in 2021. This will enable them to handle vessels of up to TEU 18,000 capacity, according to Israel Ports Co (IPC), the body that oversees their development.
IPC chief operating officer Dov Frohlinger noted that "In 2014 we handled in the vicinity of 2.45 million TEU of containers between Haifa and Ashdod, comprising 1.25 million TEU for Ashdod, and 1.196 million TEU for Haifa."
Frohlinger added: "3.5 million TEU is a nationwide forecast as a split between the ports is speculative as it will be subject to competitive factors between the operators such as price, service levels.
"The addition of new global terminal operators at each of the ports will create a competitive framework which we believe will improve overall productivity and logistical efficiency, both within each of our Mediterranean ports and between them."
Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) and Dutch Terminal Investment Limited (TIL) were given 25-year operational licenses for Haifa's Bayport and Ashdod's Southport respectively. SIPG is to invest US$2 billion in building port facilities and purchasing equipment for the harbor. A 700 meter-long harbor will be built during the first phase, which will eventually be extended to 1,600 meters.
