The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said that its ports handled a total of 35,812,858 Million Metric tons of cargo in the first half of 2013. It however added that the cargoes did not include activities at the various crude oil export terminals.
According to the statistics made available to Shipping Position Daily, containerized cargo throughput was 6,222,754 Million metric tonnes (MT), showing an increase of 3.55 % over the 2012 half year figure of 6,008,926Million MT.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said that its ports handled a total of 35,812,858 Million Metric tons of cargo in the first half of 2013. It however added that the cargoes did not include activities at the various crude oil export terminals.
According to the statistics made available to Shipping Position Daily, containerized cargo throughput was 6,222,754 Million metric tonnes (MT), showing an increase of 3.55 % over the 2012 half year figure of 6,008,926Million MT.
According to the statement signed by the agency’s general manager, public affairs; Capt Ihenacho Ebebeogu “the continuous dredging and wreck removal campaign engaged by the Nigerian Ports Authority has ensured safety, quick turnaround time of vessel and accomplishment of the 24 hour port operation”.
The statement added that similarly, reports from the quarterly update of information of developments at the different terminals indicate appreciable facility upgrades and acquisition of state of the art container handling equipment by the terminal operators which ensured quick container handling operations and reduced cargo dwell time.
Giving a further breakdown, the statement disclosed that the total liquefied natural gas shipment within the period under was 8,462,535 Million MT, an decrease of 21 % over the 2012 half year figure of 10,811,166MT.
Also the volume of refined petroleum product shipment was 9,835,719MT, which represents a growth of 4.55% over the half year 2012 figure of 9,406,268MT.
A total of 132,930 units of vehicles were handled in the half year under review, showing an increase of 2.73% over the same period of 2012 figure of 129,389 units
Dry Bulk cargo handled at the Ports in the period under review amounted to 4,573,322MT.
The agency added that its “recent research revealed that generally, each port is being shaped by the market forces dictated by the commodity demand and by the particular port user”.
Explaining this further, NPA said that while importation of general cargo through Onne port in Rivers state has reduced by 30%, this has has been largely compensated for with an increase of 60% in volume of gas.
“Lagos Port Complex is the only port that has maintained its traditional cargo morphology, but with bias for containerization as palletized cargo is gradually giving way to this new global trend.”
“Between 2003- 2012 Nigerian Ports Authority ports have experienced about 115% growth .A close examination on this progress show that we do not handle transshipment and transit cargo, all cargoes are captive and Nigeria destined”.
“It therefore shows that petroleum product liberalization, growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the transformation agenda resulting in increase in construction works have had an unprecedented economic impact on the port industry”.
The statement expressed the optimism that, “the consistent effort by the Nigerian Ports Authority in fulfilling its obligation on one part and the terminal operators on another and with the provision of enabling environment by the Federal Government of Nigeria under Dr Good luck Jonathan will further encourage investors’ confidence in the Port sector.”
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