Port of Maputo engages with customs to attract import cargo

At least 40% of all total future volumes through the Port of Maputo must be import cargo. This is according to Ron Herman, CEO of the Maputo Port Development Company. Speaking recently at a Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative (MCLI) open day, Herman said this was due to the economics of shipping changing. “The Maputo port has traditionally been a transit export port for various reasons such as the narrow shape of the port, the terminal design and the supporting rail infrastructure. But the economics of shipping has changed, so in future the port must achieve a balanced flow of imports and exports.” Herman said MCLI had brought all the stakeholders together in an effort to engage with customs authority Alfandegas to address aspects such as the development of a low/medium/high risk list of transit cargoes, to determine bond requirements, to approach insurance companies to offer new products and to explore options of establishing bonded trucking facilities. Herman said in achieving the import goal for the port it was necessary to co-operate with Alfandegas as a major challenge was the import bond required on transit cargo while in Mozambican territory.