Confirmation that there has
been a significant drop in the
number of containers being
handled at South African
ports during the first quarter
of 2016 is a clear indication of
the economic challenges facing
South Africa, its neighbours –
and the rest of the world.
According to Transnet
National Ports Authority, year
on year container volumes
for the first quarter of 2016
are 14.8% down on the same
period in 2015.
South Africa’s container
ports handled 1 008 871
containers in the first quarter
of this year, or 174 973 less than
the 1 183 844 of 2015.
Container vessels handled
dropped by 183 or 3.7% from
4 919 in 2015 to 4 736.
Break bulk cargo volumes
have dropped by 13%, or from
58 179 049 metric tons to
50 618 362 metric tons.
South Africa is not the only
country to be experiencing a
drop in volumes. A discrepancy
between the drop in containers
and that of vessels handled has
put pressure on freight rates
globally.
Research by Drewry released
in April points to continued
pressure on rates, with 5% or
one million TEUs lying idle
globally.
Of the South African ports,
only Ngqura shows growth in
the first quarter.
However, its volumes are
down by 48 088 containers,
or 28% year-on-year (from
165 890 to 117 802 TEU).
Durban and Cape Town
volumes spiked in February,
then dropped again in
March.
Cape Town handled
18 045 more containers in
February this year than the
same month in 2015.
This could be due to MSC
reportedly shifting its hub from
Ngqura to Cape Town. Shippers
in Namibia tell FTW that this
move has benefited importers
and exporters on the west coast
as there are direct sailings east
and west from Cape Town.
While Ngqura is designated
by Transnet as its transit hub,
Durban transhipped 20 603
containers in March compared
to Ngqura’s 11 824.
In February Durban
transhipped 21 062 containers
and Ngqura 9 392 – which was
less than Cape Town’s 10 391.
In January Ngqura
transhipped 10 371 containers,
Durban 20 059 and Cape Town
5 197.
The biggest loser in the
breakbulk category is Saldanha
Bay, with volumes dropping by
40% between March 2015 and
March 2016 due to reduced
iron ore exports.
