As the region recovers
from drought, Beira
is well positioned
to handle increased
volumes of fertiliser, according
to Jonathan Middleton, general
manager of Beira Logistics
Terminals (BLT).
Volumes started picking up
significantly in the first quarter of
2017 with the arrival of late rains
in the region, which led to stocks
being depleted.
“I believe we
are going to see
fertiliser volumes
growing through
Beira.
“With discharge
rates having
improved and
the facilities able
to handle larger
volumes, the supply chain through
Beira is becoming very competitive
compared to that through the
port of Durban, which is facing
congestion problems,” he says.
BLT has demonstrated the
capabilities of the port and the
supporting logistics infrastructure
by handling a number of full ships.
“We have had our best season
since we opened. Up to August
this year we have handled 150 000
metric tons of fertiliser through
BLT and 25 000M tons through
Independent Beira Logistics
Terminals
and Services
(IBLT&S),” he says.
Both are part of
the J&J group of
companies.
The previous
best year was 2015
when BLT handled
120 000 tons.
We have been able to reach the
current volumes this year due to
a very busy first quarter in 2017,
probably due to the late rains last
year and everyone trying to ship
cargo in.
“We expect to handle
200 000MT this year. This
increase is due to new fertiliser
producers coming into the
southern African region to
support the expansion of the
agricultural sector,” he says.
These volumes are being
made possible by
improvements in the
port facilities and
systems, as well as
ongoing investment by
BLT.
A new bagging
line has enabled the
company to
double its
output.
“We have
also been
able to
handle
this
tonnage
with the
extra capacity
of the warehouses
built at IBLT
where we can store bagged
fertiliser and focus more on bulk
fertiliser at BLT,” he says.
Demand for fertiliser is
increasing throughout the
region served by the port of
Beira.
“What has been interesting
is how much fertiliser has
been imported for Zimbabwe
this year, even with the
difficulty of getting
funds out of that
country.
“I think this is
largely due to the
Zimbabwean
government’s
Command
Agri programme
where government
is sponsoring
fertilisers to
Zimbabwean
farmers,” he says.
INSERT & CAPTION
We have had our best
season since we opened.
– Jonathan Middleton
