Strategically situated on the West Coast of the Gulf of Suez, Ain Sokhna Port is one of Egypt’s most important pieces of mega infrastructure, and Holcim’s low-carbon, resilient building materials and solutions have been central to its ongoing multi-year expansion.
Acting as a primary commercial gateway connecting the Gulf States, East Africa and Asia, the port is integral to Egypt’s maritime trade capabilities, and a new 350 000 m2 container yard means it can handle over 1 million twenty-foot equivalent units or TEUs per year.
The expansion project’s scale is transformative: four new port basins, 18 km of expanded berths, and almost 15 km2 of dedicated trading and logistics zones. Ain Sokhna Port has even set a new Guinness World Record for the deepest artificial port basin created on land at 19 m.
Supplying low-carbon, resilient solutions
From 2018 to 2022, Holcim supplied 85 000 tons of ECOPlanet1 low-carbon cement for the substructure and quays. Subsequently, 256 000 m3 of specialized concrete was used to build the technically demanding 900 m-long concrete industrial quay and deck by the end of 2023.
The Sokhna Port expansion proves that we can accelerate strategic national infrastructure with low-carbon, resilient solutions that meet demanding technical standards. We’re proud to have contributed to this mega project in Egypt, and to have worked so closely with our partners.
256 000 m3 of specialized concrete supplied for the industrial port dec
Quay package delivered seamlessly in just 16 months, 10 months ahead of schedule
45% emissions reduction versus local reference CEM I / OPC using ECOPlanet
Accelerated construction schedule
Constructing the port deck under tight tolerances posed complex logistical challenges. Partnering closely with Hassan Allam Construction and The Arab Contractors, Holcim met these demands through dedicated onsite batching setups to ensure the highest mix consistency.
While a 26-month construction timeline was originally planned, the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) and Egyptian Ministry of Transport accelerated the delivery window to just 16 months – a milestone Holcim met without supply interruption.
©The Arab Contractors
Advancing Egypt Vision 2030
Serving as a cornerstone of the Suez Canal Economic Zone, and integrating seamlessly with the new Ain Sokhna-El Alamein high-speed electric freight rail corridor, Sokhna Port is establishing Egypt as a global maritime hub.
By delivering certified low-carbon solutions at scale, Holcim is actively supporting the Environment Pillar of the Egypt Vision 2030 strategy – showing how rapid industrial growth and environmental policy can advance hand in hand.
1ECOPlanet achieves at least 30% lower GWP (kg CO2e/t, A1-A3 scope) compared with the applicable Ordinary Portland Cement (CEM I/Type I) reference.
Our stories
