26 Oct 2023
Mr Andrew Kanime Namport CEO addressing the guests at the Namport Port Users Function 2023
The Namibian Ports Authority rolled out the red carpet and hosted a dazzling evening to be remembered by its esteemed clients at the annual Port Users' function in Walvis Bay last week. This grand event was designed to express profound gratitude to all attendees for their valuable business contributions to the growth of the organization and to recognize the outstanding high performers among Namport's esteemed clients.
During his speech, Mr. Andrew Kanime, Namport's CEO, emphasized the pivotal role of client collaboration in realizing Namport's vision of becoming "the Best Performing Seaports in Africa." He conveyed deep appreciation for the Port Users' unwavering support, which greatly contributed to the remarkable financial performance of Namport in the 2022/2023 financial year.
The CEO highlighted several factors that contributed to the organization's performance in the financial year under review:
- Vessel calls at the Ports of Walvis and Lüderitz increased by 3%, with a 15% year-on-year growth in gross tonnages. This growth was driven by increased calls from dry bulk, liquid bulk, petroleum, passenger, and patrol vessels.
- Container volumes saw a 4% decrease, totaling around 160,000 TEUs. This decrease was primarily due to reduced transshipment volumes, but there was a 0.4% increase in container imports and a 9% increase in exports, indicating rising demand from local and regional markets.
- Bulk and break-bulk volumes experienced a substantial 23% increase, reaching over 5.4 million tonnes. This growth resulted from increased demand for various commodities from local and regional markets.
- Revenue for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2023, amounted to N$1.503 billion, a 22% year-on-year increase from the previous year. Favorable commodity prices and robust import-export activity underpinned this growth.
- Operating expenditure for the year rose by 11% compared to the previous fiscal year, totaling N$1.114 billion, largely due to increased business activities. Notably, this increase in cost remained below the increase in revenue.
- Operating profit for the year increased by 10% to N$411 million, underscoring Namport's commitment to sustainability.
As a part of the celebration and recognition, the event included the presentation of prestigious awards in four categories, highlighting exceptional clients of Namport:
Top 3 SMEs for 2023:
- XYZ Investment CC
- Zephyr Investments CC
- Comfortune Investment CC
Top 5 Revenue-Based Clients for 2023:
- Woker Freight Services (Pty) Ltd
- Logistics Support Services (Pty) Ltd
- Sturrock Grindrod Maritime Namibia
- Trade Ocean Shipping Namibia (Pty) Ltd
- Maersk Namibia (Pty) Ltd
Top 5 Volume-Based Clients for 2023:
- Puma Energy Namibia (Pty) Ltd
- Walvis Bay Salt Refiners (Pty) Ltd
- ENGEN (PTY) LTD
- Walvis Bay Bulk Terminal (Pty) Ltd
- Woker Freight Services (Pty) Ltd
In a remarkable acknowledgment of industry excellence, the prestigious "CEO Lifetime Industry Achiever Award" was presented to Mr. Leonard "Kicker" Shidute of Port Side Marine Services. This award celebrates his outstanding contributions to the maritime industry and serves as a testament to his remarkable career achievements.
Port Users Function 2023_Mr Andrew Kanime with Ms Amanda Pick, Board Member of Namport handing over the Lifetime award to Mr Shidute as Ms Charlotte Farmer and Ms Frieda Haindongo join in the moment
This event showcases Namport's unwavering commitment to becoming a leading force in the African seaport industry. Another comparable event is scheduled for later in December to honor clients at the Port of Lüderitz.
SOURCE: Namport
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