New Delhi: The tensions that have risen in the Strait of Hormuz have made it a risky trade route for Indian businesses, making the Sohar Port a better option for them to use. Oman is currently looking at the inviting Indian companies for the investments in the port, the free zone and the industrial zone surrounding it.
Sohar Port is been located on the coast of the Gulf of Oman, in Oman. This area is outside the Strait of Hormuz and ships can going to enter into the trade hubs in the Gulf without by travelling via the narrow straits, which is a risky area. According to Sohar port’s CEO Raid Al Rubaiey, Sohar has attracted over $30 billion in investments and could handle its throughput to be around 72 million tonnes a year.
It’s coming at a critical juncture. Indian crewed ships have recently been attacked off the coast of the Strait of Hormuz and some ten Indian-flagged vessels remain in the Persian Gulf, awaiting transportation to a safe port. Due to this source of risk some shippers and oil traders have begun to employ ship-to-ship transshipment near Oman rather than in the Strait. Saudi Arabia is also increasing its shipments of crude oil to Asian refineries by this method, off Sohar port.
Indian logistics companies already are interested. As the situation deteriorated in West Asia earlier this year, shipping companies have been increasingly using ports east of the Strait, such as Sohar, Salalah, Khorfakkan and Jeddah, to transport significant amounts of cargo, compared to normal. Even more, company DP World has taken the initiative from India and launched a shipping trade between Cochin port and Fujairah, Sohar and Aden. Al Rubaie said that several Indian companies now have discussions with Sohar regarding the operation of their own terminals there.
This trade push isn’t only about safety. India-Oman trade agreement began in June, 2026, providing almost all of India’s products duty free entry into the Oman market. Sohar, Duqm and Salalah are also identified by India as strategic logistics centres which could facilitate the Indian exporters to access the markets in the Gulf and East Africa.
