Portos de Maputo, under the management of Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC), has announced a new record for handling miscellaneous cargo in the year 2021, having registered a growth of 21% more compared to the previous year, 2020.
In 2021 Portos de Maputo handled 22.2 million tons, compared to 18.3 million tons in 2020, says a statement from MPDC quoted by the portal carta. This record comes two years after the last one, which took place in 2019, when the record stood at 21 million tons of cargo handled
The 2021 figures reflect the market recovery after a dramatic period since the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic, but also the efficient use of berths 7, 8 and 9, along with the expansion of the ferry terminal and a dedicated rail line.
The MPDC also highlights that the investment and implementation of automation solutions within the port continued throughout 2021, with the completion and activation of the VAN (Vessel Arrival Notification) and RAN (Train Arrival Notification) systems, the automation of all the port's weighbridges, and lastly, the establishment of integration between Mozambique Customs systems, Single Electronic Window (SEW) with port systems, to improve the efficiency of border movement.
MPDC Executive Director Osório Lucas, quoted in the document, says that although the rehabilitation of the quays, including dredging (scheduled for April) is not yet complete, the port has already begun to see results from this infrastructure development, as the rehabilitation and strengthening of the quay floors has allowed more berthing space for large draft vessels.
In the overall compute, our source makes it clear that with the dredging of the channel in 2017 and other measures to improve the efficiency of maritime operations, the port has successively surpassed all its handling records.
In recent years, joint work between MPDC, the Mozambique Railways and Transnet Freight & Rail/ Transnet Freight and Rail has paved the way for improved rail efficiencies.
"We believe that the stakeholders will solve the current challenges together so that we continue to work towards a better balance between rail and road freight volumes," Lucas assured.