SWAKOPMUND, 22 JUN (NAMPA) - The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) handled a total of 5 561 999 tonnes during the 2019/20 financial year through equal contribution from the ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz, as well as the four corridors.
Of this figure, one million tonnes were handled through the Trans-Kalahari, Trans-Oranje, Trans-Kunene as well as the Ndola-Lubumbashi development corridors.
A press release issued on Monday by Namport's Executive for Commercial Services, Immanuel !Hanabeb, said the largest portion of growth is reflected by the 100 per cent increased activity along the Trans-Oranje Corridor as 204 301 tonnes of manganese ore were exported via the Port of Lüderitz during the financial year 2019/20.
"The benefit of the Trans-Oranje corridor is to serve the mines in the Northern Cape as it is a much shorter route versus using a South African based port. The unique initiation between TradePort Namibia logistics deal came into fruition early last year, with the first consignment received through the Port of Lüderitz in September last year," he noted.
This arrangement, according to !Hanabeb, will further contribute to Namport recording a total of 360 000 tonnes of cargo per annum through the Port of Lüderitz, resulting in a predicted 60 per cent overall volume increase as the Trans-Orange Corridor increases its share of cargo volumes.
"Another increase worth noting is from the import of manganese through the Port of Lüderitz, which has increased from 30 000 tonnes per month to 60 000 tonnes," the statement said.
This increase, he added, will double the annual throughput from this commodity to 720 000 tonnes.
Due to these developments, Namport is currently in discussions with the Oldendorff shipping line to have a barge option.
Oldendorff Carriers is a German shipping company and is one of the world's largest dry bulk shipping companies, shipping and transhipping over to 300 million tonnes of bulk cargo every year.
The statement added that imports such as ship spares, steel, sulphur, and ammonium nitrate and steel imports also performed well in comparison to the previous financial year (2018/19).
SOURCE: NAMPA - IB/HP/AS
https://www.nampa.org/index.php?model=categories&function=display&id=20216212