It's the normal busy period, despite SA's weak rand
By Terry Hutson
DESPITE FEARS that a weak rand/dollar exchange rate would have a dramatic effect on container traffic in South African ports, latest statistics from the Port of Durban indicate that the situation remains very similar to last year. It would appear that imports are taking a slight knock, but this is being balanced by healthy exports.
During the month of September Durban handled 68 455 containers compared with 70 135 for October 1995. When these are converted to teus (twenty foot equivalent units) this gives 83 249 this September compared with 83 907 last year, and it becomes clear there has been a small swing to 40 foot containers.
These figures do not include those containers redirected to Port Elizabeth.
Of interest, however, are the figures showing containers imported versus exported. In September imports dropped from 32 157 last year to 31 131 in 1996, while exports remained fairly static at 35 279 this year compared with 35 785 in 1995.
These figures reflect an increase in containerised traffic from the previous month (63 127 containers or 77 886 teus) and indicate that Durban has been through the normal busy period. According to a Portnet spokesman the container terminal is coping with this traffic although there has been periodic bunching of ships, causing short delays.
Durban's breakbulk terminals are reported to be quiet.
