PE terminal registers 46% growth

ED RICHARDSON SOUTH AFRICAN Port Operations has registered a 46% increase year to date in vehicle volumes through the Port Elizabeth car terminal compared to the same period last year. In 2004 25 373 units were handled while this year 37 015 units moved through the terminal. Imports contributed 17 695 units while exports contributed 19 320 to the total. The success of local auto assemblers Volkswagen and General Motors, economic trends and the higher confidence levels in the economy have contributed to the growth, acccording to business unit executive Siya Mhlaluka. “This confirms the Eastern Cape as the automotive hub and plans are in place to deal with the demand in capacity. R16 million will be invested in increasing the number of parking bays and the washing and dewaxing capacity,” he said.