Beira Logistics Terminals (BLT) has just completed a 4 200-square-metre warehouse dedicated to bulk fertiliser handling.According to general manager Kevin Hutton, this is in addition to the company’s existing operating warehouses of 28 314sqm at BLT and 6 552sqm at BLT’s external Manga warehouse.“We have also increased the cargo handling f leet by 50% to ensure cargo is moved in and out of the warehouses without delays.”He said the Beira corridor continued to offer opportunity to the market. “Clients are still looking for the shortest route to market, and Beira fits this bill very well.”According to Hutton, one of the biggest challenges, however, has been container issues and vessels not calling at the port – which negatively affected the advantages Beira offered.“Vessels and container shortage issues continue to plague the market, and customers need some kind of certainty that cargo will move. These pressures are usually transferred to the cargo agents and warehouses. Warehouse operators therefore need to find innovative solutions and reduce costs while still offering a high level of service to customers.”He said until June this year BLT had seen stable container movements for export cargo from the hinterland, but the last four months had seen a drop of at least 30% and customers had been diverting cargo to other corridors. This was mostly attributed to vessels not calling at the port and the container shortage. “It did affect the balance of cargo moving on the Beira Corridor, but things have started to improve and the issue around containers and vessel availability is starting to stabilise.”He said most warehousing in Beira was operating at capacity. “There is new warehousing going up to accommodate the volumes. 2020 was a great year for the corridor, and these warehouses are being built on the back of those volumes. This being said, volumes of cargo from the hinterland need to be sustained, otherwise warehousing in Beira will have excess capacity and rates will come under pressure.”Hutton said BLT was continuing to invest in new systems, equipment and warehouses. “A new CCTV system with facial and number plate recognition, and new cargo handling equipment has been on the cards. Just recently we received a new Kalmar for container handling. As a company we have to stay ahead of the local market, offering levels of service and security that are equivalent to, if not better than, what warehouses in South Africa and along other corridors offer.”Commenting on new developments, Hutton said e-seals were a relatively new process in Beira and had not kicked off without complications. “This has increased costs in an already strained market and reduced the truck efficiencies on the corridor. Greater care therefore needs to be taken when new systems are implemented, and increased consultation with the stakeholders on the corridor is important.”
