Maputo Port handled 30.9 million tonnes of cargo and contributed more than US$46.8 million to the Mozambican government’s coffers in 2024.
This is according to the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) which announced that the port’s total volumes dropped by 1% to 30.9 million tonnes compared with 2023.
MPDC said its direct operations had demonstrated robust growth, handling 14.2 million tonnes, an increase of 14% from the previous year, while road volumes rose 11% from 9.5 million to 10.7 million tonnes.
“Rail volumes, which have been a critical focus for MPDC’s sustainability strategy, grew by 7%, from 2.8 million tonnes to 3.019 million tonnes. These figures underscore MPDC’s ability to maintain a balanced distribution of transport modes, even amidst the logistical constraints.
“The slight decrease in total volumes at all terminals at the Port of Maputo and the Port of Matola was primarily due to the post-electoral protests and road blockages in the Maputo corridor, including border closure for several days and conditioned border and road operations for more than a month consolidated,” MPDC said.
The rail corridor from South Africa to Mozambique was also affected by the protests and blockages and by a derailment in October/November, which led to a shutdown of the line for a month.
“The Port of Maputo faced a challenging last quarter of the year, but our team’s resilience, coupled with our continued focus on diversification and efficiency, enabled us to maintain strong operational performance overall. The growth in our direct operations and transport volumes is a testament to this effort,” said MPDC CEO, Osório Lucas.
A key highlight of 2024 was the increase in concession fees paid to the government of Mozambique, which rose by 12% to $46.8 million, compared with $41.7 million in 2023. This excludes additional contributions to the state from taxes on profits and dividends to its shareholder, Caminhos-de-Ferro de Moçambique.
“Looking ahead, 2025 will see the commencement of the major expansion projects at the Port of Maputo, including the much-anticipated expansion of the container terminal and the coal terminal, both of which are set to begin during the first semester,” MPDC said.
