Exporter pressure needed for Maputo to realise full potential

The propensity for shipping citrus in containers is here to stay, so perhaps it’s not unreasonable that there’s a degree of exporter reluctance to export via Maputo until the port comes up with container services to global markets. And port authorities have given the assurance this will be forthcoming in the near future. To suggest, however, that Maputo’s lack of container capacity is holding back citrus exporters, is a “gross misrepresentation” of the port’s ability to service container lines as capacity is presently underutilised, argues Mitchell Brooke, responsible for handling Maputo issues on behalf of the Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA). Brooke says it is a fact the citrus industry has moved to containerisation, currently at 67%, which has impacted negatively on citrus export volumes from Maputo in that fruit previously shipped from the Mozambican port in breakbulk is now being diverted to Durban for shipment in containers. “This alone should not impact the ability to export more volumes through Maputo; there is a reliable and regular breakbulk service to Europe and Mediterranean markets, and a greater chance to load more ships to Russia and Middle East markets.” There is also, he argues, an opportunity to ship containers direct to Far East, Mediterranean and Middle East, either via Singapore, Tanjung Pelepas or Port Kelang, though this is strongly hindered by deals done FOB to the Far East and Middle East. Shipping is therefore dictated by the buyer determining the loading port and shipping line.