Maputo Car terminal becomes transit hub

South African motor companies that have been stalling decisions around using the port of Maputo may well find that they are temporarily stuck in the traffic when they do decide to use the facilities built by Grindrod. According to Domingos Bié, operations manager of the Grindrod Maputo Car terminal, it is now handling around three thousand units a month, with the majority being transit cargo. The investment was made on the expectation that Gautengbased original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) would use the Maputo corridor for the export and import of vehicles. What has happened instead is that growing numbers of second-hand vehicles are being imported through Mozambique for neighbouring countries following a clamp-down by the South African authorities on second-hand imports being driven through the country. All have to be transported “off wheel” on vehicle carriers, adding to the cost. Maputo is also being used as a staging area for vehicle exports to the Middle and Far East, as well as other African ports along the east and west coasts. Höegh Autoliners, which purchased a share in the terminal in 2008, calls directly on Maputo from Europe. The line’s newest vessel, a 4 900 unit capacity PCTC, is called the Höegh Maputo. A monthly Middle East to India and Africa trade was launched in July 2009. It connects Jebel Ali and Mumbai with South and East Africa. Maputo transhipments also connect to West Africa, Oceania and the US East Coast. The port is also the transhipment port on the Europe, Middle and Far East service. Maputo’s vehicle terminal is also handling high and heavy cargo, such as conveyor belts loaded in mafi trailers bound for the Moatize coal deposit in the Zambezi Valley or Tete Province. Bié says the terminal has plans in place to accommodate the South African OEMs if they decide to use it. Phase two is ready to roll, bringing the total to 3 500 parking bays and a capacity of 50 000 units a month. Low-volume South African importers making use of the terminal at present are Tata, Mahindra and Fiat.