More than 5.5 million people used rail transport in Mozambique in 2022, an increase of 81% compared to the previous year due to the easing of Covid-19 prevention measures, according to data from the CFM company.

According to CFM's report and accounts for 2022, which is quoted by Lusa, Mozambique's public ports and railways company, rail transport movements amounted to 5,568,969 passengers last year, 98% of the management forecast.

Even so, this is an increase of 81% compared to the movement in 2021, which CFM justifies in the report, to which Lusa had access today, also with investments made that have strengthened transport capacity in the south and center of the country.

CFM's annual report also states that Mozambique's rail network transported a total of 24.6 million gross tons of cargo in 2022, a year-on-year increase of 30% compared to 2021.

The port terminals under CFM's management handled 13.21 million tons during the 2022 financial year, an increase of around 6% compared to 2021, "as a result of the new investments that have been made by the company".

Despite the "negative factors that characterized the first months" of 2022, such as cyclones, incidents of rail derailments, a moderate supply of rail cargo and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the company's management claims to have invested 7,925.1 million meticais in rail-port projects "to revitalize and renew assets".

The administration also said that CFM had a positive pre-tax result of around 4,063 million meticais in 2022.