Latest port stats reflect impact of global recession

The statistics released by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) for cargo movement through the Port of Durban for the first quarter of 2009 once again make for unpleasant reading, according to Dave Watts, shipping director of the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) in KwaZulu Natal. This major indicator of the state-of-health of SA trade shows that it has also been blighted by the downturn in international cargo flow. “The numbers for full import and export boxes – measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and an indication of SA’s international trade – shrank to levels below those recorded in the same period 2007,” he told FTW, “and are, respectively, 25% and 22% below 2008. “Considering the on-going conversion from breakbulk and bulk to containers over recent years, the decline in box movements to levels below those recorded two years ago indicates the impact the global recession is having on SA trade.” In Watts’ opinion, there is little value in comparing this year’s month-on-month statistics due to various factors. “However,” he said, “it seems clear that the ‘green shoots’ sprouting in the world economy that we are hearing about from politicians in Europe and the US have not yet emerged here.” March imports – at 47 460-TEUs – were still 8% below the February number of 51 675. Exports, however, saw a slight improvement. March came in at 45 119-TEUs – 5% over the 42 945 recorded in February. “Though,” said Watts, “in both cases, the shorter month in February should be taken into account.” He also felt that there was little consolation from looking at other statistics. “Total bulk and breakbulk volumes for first quarter of 2009 – at 8.631-million tonnes – were 14% below the 2008 figure of 10.020-mt.” Watts also noted that visitors to the port over recent years would have observed that the storage areas utilised by the car terminal constantly resembled a parking lot of global proportions “But not so any more,” he added, “as imports in March – at 9 435-TEUs – were around 50% of average 2008 levels. The 11 205 total of export units were also well down on recent figures.” The overall national statistics released by TNPA – and also gleaned from cargo dues orders – show imports in March down 20% on the same month in 2008, and exports down 11.7%. “Cape Town almost came to the rescue,” said Watts, “shipping 22 947-TEUs – a marginal decline of less than 5% from the March 08 figure of 24 091. “All maritime industry participants will be hoping that the second quarter sees, at the very least, volume levels stabilising, indicating that the current global recession is bottoming out and demand beginning a slow recovery.”