CT port reaps benefits of spike in maize imports

The drought-induced
increase in maize imports
has pushed up dry bulk
volumes at the Port of
Cape Town in the past few
months – currently 63%
above budget for the
year to date.
“Agri imports
have also
increased along
with maize,”
said a port
representative.
Container
imports were
also higher
than expected,
but this could
be attributed
to the very low
volumes that
were budgeted for
due to the global
economic picture.
Exports – year to date –
were however performing
below budget.
Breakbulk was not seeing
much movement at this
stage while liquid bulk was
9% above budget.
On the possibility of rigs
coming into Cape Town
again for repairs, the
representative said no rigs
were expected in the next
few months. The port has
in the past actively tried
to attract the oil and
gas industry and
was handling up
to two rigs a
year, but with
the drop in the
oil price this
business has
just about
dried up.
“The
situation with
rigs in the Port
of Cape Town
remains the
same,” said the
representative.
“We don’t foresee
this situation
continuing forever and so
it is important that we are
ready and able to handle
not only the rigs but the
repairs of the support
vessels once the industry
picks up again.”