The Matola Cargo Terminal (MCT) is investing in state-of-the-art cold rooms in Matola.According to managing director Sean Gent, this is part of a change strategy the company has launched to diversify from the warehousing of customers’ fast-moving consumer goods business to cold storage of perishables, with a focus on citrus fruits.“We wish to align our new cold storage business model similar to our sister company FPT in South Africa which has a lot of experience and knowledge in the perishable and citrus fruit market,” he told Freight News.He said the decision to build cold rooms had been fast-tracked after a fire at the company’s warehousing facility in Matola in February this year. “The fire did a lot of damage and the whole warehouse burnt down. Prior to this event we had, however, been looking at diversifying our business and had identified fruit as a major opportunity.”Gent said the impact of Covid-19 on the Mozambique consumer’s behaviour, and the retail sector at large, was a big contributing factor – and the decision to move into perishables was a new business opportunity. The strategy has also been supported by MCT’s head office in South Africa, The Logistics Group SA. “We are targeting at least 15% year-on-year growth – and in the present market in Mozambique, we are not going to manage that through the FMCG sectors.Gent told Freight News the new cold rooms would be fitted with the latest equipment and would meet international health and safety standards. “We are also going green with this facility and it will be fitted with solar panels and other energy-saving devices to reduce our carbon footprint.”He said the return of citrus exports to Maputo during the past season had been enthusiastically received. “We used to handle a lot of fruit in Mozambique, but our exports stopped for many years as all exports moved through the ports of Durban and Cape Town. The decision by exporters to return to the Port of Maputo is good news for the local industry and gives us the opportunity to diversify our business and grow volumes through the Port of Maputo again.”According to Gent, Maputo is ideally placed to handle citrus exports from the north of South Africa. “With the expected growth of South African citrus, the current export channels are going to be congested and we have the capacity in Maputo to offer an alternative export-to-market service. It makes sense to export via the Maputo Corridor.”He said the new cold rooms would add value to Maputo as an export destination – not only for citrus but other perishable cargo. Several trial runs of ambient citrus – predominantly going to the Far East – had been handled during the past season and had gone very well. “We have already had several requests for cold store capacity meeting international standards, making it imperative that we get our facility off the ground before the next season. Our goal is to open our cold storage by April next year.”The facility will be rolled out in phases, starting with cold storage for up to 1 300 pallets. “This will be increased as we attract more volume. We plan to go to 5 000 pallets within the next two years and up to 10 000 pallets within five years.”He said with the terminal already fitted with its own rail siding, advocating for more citrus to move on rail was a priority. According to Gent, not only were South African exporters being targeted, but also Mozambican producers. “We have already met with local producers who are very excited about the development and what we will offer them.”The company will embark on a roadshow later this year, introducing the new facility to the market.
