Maputo plays key role for Far East shippers

The Port of Maputo
in Mozambique is as
important in the southern
African context as the Port
of Durban itself.
Following major
developments in recent
years, the port is widely
regarded as the fifth South
African corridor.
According to Brenda
Horne, CEO of the
Maputo Corridor Logistics
Imitative, it is the ideal
gateway to the Far East
and with the growth being
experienced it is finally
coming into its own.
Transnet Freight Rail
acting CEO Tau Morwe
agrees. He says that while
Transnet is not investing
much of its five-year capital
expenditure budget on the
Maputo Corridor, it remains
an important part of the
South African mix.
He says TFR is
continuously looking at
which commodities and
products can be moved
through the Maputo port as
rail operators have much
value to add in developing
the corridor by increasing
the number of trains.
Rail operators from
Swaziland and South
Africa have continuously
reiterated their commitment
to the Maputo corridor as
it is seen as an answer to
bringing down the cost of
transporting goods in the
Southern African region,
while boosting regional
economic growth says
Horne.
“We have seen
substantial growth in
containers at the Maputo
Port which is seeing ships
calling directly from the
Far East.”
With an estimated
investment of around
$800-million dollars over
the next five years, more is
expected in years to come.
“The dredger also arrived
two weeks ago,” says
Horne, “and it is currently
in action in the port.”
The dredging operation
will deepen the port to allow
fully laden Panamax vessels
to be handled regardless
of tidal conditions – a
move that will see its
competitiveness in terms of
bulk and container traffic
increase dramatically.
With ports and terminals
being very strategic assets,
investment pay-off is
more often than not seen
immediately. In the case
of Maputo, experts believe
the port will come into its
own some three years down
the line, offering services
especially to the Far East,
that most will not be able to
ignore.