Perishable terminal feels the squeeze

A bad crop combined with a bad
market resulted in fruit exports
out of the Port of Maputo just not
reaching their target.
While an average of
80 000 pallets of citrus per year is
generally exported out of Maputo,
in 2009 Mozambique Fresh
Produce Terminals (FPT) did not
even achieve 60 000 pallets.
“It was a combination of factors,”
says Paulo Franco, regional general
manager of FPT. “If we had had a
good crop it would probably have
helped a bit as fruit does always
find a market. But the global
economic downturn combined
with the crop was just not an
optimal situation.”
Fruit exports across the country
took a knock due to the global
financial crisis.
“Fruit volumes have been down
everywhere, not just here. In fact
we have managed to hold our
heads up and if next year’s crop is
good, we expect to be back at our
average or even better and get to
100 000 pallets.”