Cargo volumes through the two Namibian seaports increased with a record 300 000 containers (20 foot equivalent units) in the past 12 months ended August 01.
The cargo went through both the ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz. Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) chief executive officer Bisey /Uirab said the record "is by no means a small achievement."
Cargo volumes through the two Namibian seaports increased with a record 300 000 containers (20 foot equivalent units) in the past 12 months ended August 01.
The cargo went through both the ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz. Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) chief executive officer Bisey /Uirab said the record "is by no means a small achievement."
The high record of cargo volumes is a feather in the cap for Namport who in June this year was voted the "Best Port Operator or Terminal in Africa" at the Africa Rail and Harbours Conference in Johannesburg.
The qualifying criterion for the award was operational efficiency and effectiveness, as well as the ability to demonstrate best practice in Africa's ports' sector. "We are very proud of this outstanding recognition of our efforts and growth in Africa," /Uirab said.
According to available information the forecasts for the next financial year predict a 10 percent growth in container cargo vo-lumes at Namport. The port authority is in the process of developing another container terminal to meet the growing demand. The ongoing economic and financial strains experienced in Europe appear not have had a significant impact on Namport. The two Namibian ports only experienced a decrease of 3.5 percent in container volumes compared to the 10 percent decline experienced globally.
Vehicle imports through the Port of Walvis Bay have steadily increased over the past five years. The Port of Walvis Bay's performance for April this year reflects a growth of 72 percent in vehicle import volumes compared to last year. More than 1 000 vehicles go through the Port of Walvis Bay on a monthly basis, a major increase compared to a mere 10 vehicles that went through the port seven years ago.
The vehicles are bound for landlocked countries within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Namibia's ports, logistics and transport sector recently drew slight criticism from World Bank experts who commented that the Port of Walvis Bay "is more distant than competing ports from key corridor markets" and thus slightly expensive to use.
World Bank experts said even though Namibia shares borders with South Africa and Angola, here seaports are separated from the region's centres of economic activity by vast distances, making them high-cost alternatives to Durban in South Africa and other ports in the region.
Namibia's size and location also make it unlikely for Walvis Bay to succeed in displacing Durban as the gateway for handling the bulk of the region's trade, the experts said.
The comments were not well received by the private sector representatives, who were quick to point to the growth in volumes going through the Port of Walvis Bay and the number of logistic companies that have started making use of Namibian ports in recent years
Discussion about this post