Mitsui OSK Lines has become the biggest user of the port of Maputo following the line’s decision to use the port as a transhipment hub for its pure car carrier (PCC) southern Africa operations, and to use larger container vessels. “We recently upgraded our container vessels from 2100 to 2800 TEUs, and in October 2011 commenced using Maputo as a transhipment hub for PCC vessels due to lack of space and congestion in the Durban Car Terminal,” says Richard Purchase, MOL’s owner’s representative who has been based in Maputo for the past three years. MOL’s liner service is hubbed out of Singapore. The vehicle hub is used for the transhipment of second-hand and new vehicles to the west and east coasts of Africa. Cars are imported from Singapore, Japan and Dubai, where large numbers of vehicles are stored in the desert before being sold into the African and other markets. Maputo currently has capacity to help South African shippers avoid the delays in Durban due to the upgrading of the port, he says. “The citrus-growing areas of Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Swaziland are much closer to Maputo than Durban, but most shippers still prefer to use Durban, despite the congestion, due to perceived higher costs and tradition,” he says. Overall container import volumes for the port are down by 15% mainly due to a decline in cement imports as local factories came on line. “Currently there is very little or no transit cargo into SA, Swaziland or Zimbabwe due to the Customs bond that is required. “Shippers are advised to monitor the situation as this matter is currently being negotiated, and we are all hoping for resolution and withdrawal of this requirement in the near future,” he says. MOL is carrying increasing volumes of cargo bound for Mozambique itself – a reflection of economic growth in the country. Containerised imported cargo includes rice, constructionrelated cargo, used clothing, used vehicles, manufactured goods and foodstuffs. Exports – which have also declined – are made up of a mixed bag of chrome, timber and citrus out of South Africa; scrap metal and frozen fish from Mozambique; citrus, sugar and timber from Swaziland; and chrome from Zimbabwe. MOL and other members of the Maputo Shippers’ Forum are working with the port authorities and terminal operators in order to attract more cargo by reducing costs. CAPTION Richard Purchase ... ‘Maputo currently has capacity to help South African shippers avoid the delays in Durban.’
