Höegh Autoliners has ramped up its service to East Africa and is now sailing to the region twice a month, one sailing per month from the Far East and Europe.According to a spokesman, one vessel calls at East Africa first and the second at South Africa on a rotation. This comes as volumes to East Africa continue to grow despite the outbreak of Covid-19.“We have seen a 32% increase in import volume for the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. At least 80% of ro-ro discharge volumes originate from Japan and 64% of new cars originate from South Africa. Although Covid-19 impacted the region, big volumes continue to come from Far East Asia, including Japan and China, India and Singapore. South Africa also contributes significantly to the volumes.”The spokesman said growth was evident in the mining and construction sectors. Chinese trucks, buses, mining equipment and earthmoving equipment contributed significantly to import volumes.The rehabilitation projects of several berths at the Dar es Salaam port were of extreme significance as this would improve vessel turnaround time and reduce congestion.“Despite the disruption caused by Covid-19, East Africa remains the continent’s fastest-growing region,” said the spokesman. “The success of the region can largely be attributed to major infrastructure projects, agricultural opportunities and significant economic growth.”
