Volumes into the Port of Tema in Ghana are expected to remain steady for the foreseeable future, according to William Hepplewhite of Höegh Autoliners.The shipping line has, for several years, operated a monthly service into Tema from the Middle East, India, Far East, South East Asia and South Africa.“We expect volumes to remain stable. Changes in volumes to West African ports such as Luanda and Lagos are very much dependent on the oil price,” he explained, highlighting the importance of the price of oil in the region. This was not only because of the high dependence on oil exports, but also because it determined the willingness to spend on imports. According to Hepplewhite, berthing congestion was still challenging for liners calling West Africa. Another concern was the ongoing threat of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.Despite these challenges, the outlook for the region remains very positive, in his view. “The Port of Tema, along with several other key ports in the region, are of critical importance as they serve as gateways to several landlocked countries.”Hepplewhite said it was also expected that the port would continue to see an increase in ro-ro volumes. “Ghana is poised to position itself as an automotive assembly hub in West Africa by implementing a government automotive development policy. It is aimed at attracting auto manufacturing companies to set up assembly plants in Ghana. Many original equipment manufacturers have unveiled their assembly plants, while others plan to operate plants by the end of 2022.”He said Tema was predominantly a discharging port, with occasional exports of project cargo and heavylift machinery. More recently there had been an increase in demand for smaller, more efficient vehicles, excavators and earthmoving equipment.
