Containerised cargo volumes grow 7.9%

Combined port stats reveal flat picture Alan Peat IT HAS been a very stable three years for seafreight transport through SA's six main ports, according to Portnet statistics released to FTW by the National Ports Authority (NPA). The figures for the total tonnage handled by the ports show that Ð in the financial year of 1999/2000 - the six ports handled 155 638 147 tons of cargo in containerised, bulk and breakbulk forms. There was a marginal growth of 3.9% in 2000/2001, with a total of 161 740 243 tons handled. The year of 2001/2002 showed even lower growth of 0.18% with a total of 162 031 505 tons handled that year. Looking at the export side Ð an area of growth expectation for SA Ð the growth figures in tonnage terms are no more encouraging. In 99/00, exports from the ports totalled 128 612 140 tons. In 00/01 this grew by 4.6% to a total of 134 084 599 tons, but last financial year fell by 0.08% to 133 977 236 tons. But extracting the tonnage totals for containerised cargo reveals slightly more promising figures. The 99/00 total of 8 939 020 tons rose by 3.4% in 00/01 to a total of 9 249 082 tons, and by a more attractive 7.9% last year to a total of 9 986 560 tons. Using the port authority's figures for containerised cargoes expressed in TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units), the ports handled a total of 1 437 176 full boxes in 99/00. This grew by 1.3% in 00/01 to a total of 1 456 053, and last year by 9.8% to 1 598 837 TEUs. The figures for total TEUs handled (including empties) were: 99/00, 1 789 965; 00/01, 1 846 946; and last year, 2 060 243. Again looking at exports as the crucial figures in SA's export led economy, there has been mildly encouraging growth. In 99/00 the ports handled a total of 529 002 Òdeepsea full boxesÓ (exports). This grew by 6.6% in 00/01 to reach a total of 564 124 TEUs, and by 13% last year to a total of 637 899. Imports, meantime, remained relatively constant Ð although with a marginal fall in 00/01. The figures for the three years read 561 887 TEUs in 99/00; 552 001 in 00/01; and 565 520 last year. Durban remains the country's largest port in everything except bulk cargo where Richards Bay is the big volume handler. In 99/00, Durban handled a total of 923 290 full TEUs Ð of which 350 670 boxes were for exports and 320 888 for imports In 00/01 the total was 970 398 (+5.1%); exports of 370 652 (+5.5%); and imports 332 421 (+3.6%). Last financial year saw the total rise by a slim 0.35% to 973 877; exports by 6.5% to 394 843; and imports actually falling by 0.67% to 330 187 TEUs. Cape Town meantime Ð as the second largest SA port Ð handled a total of 272 890 TEUs in 99/00; 278 798 (+2.16%) in 00/01; and 331 878 (+19%) last year. Richards Bay Ð the country's main bulk cargo handling port Ð has had little in the way of tonnage fluctuations in the three-year period. In 99/00 the port handled 82 484 982 tons of cargo, of which 78 462 640 tons was exported. In 00/01, its figures read 85 967 433 tons (+4.2%) in total bulk handled, with 81 446 223 tons (+3.8%) exported. Last year the port recorded a marginal drop of Ð0.23% in the total of 85 764 862 tons handled Ð and a 0.64% fall in its 80 920 036 tons of export-only cargo.