Port stats reveal extent of export plunge

Presenting a headache for SA exporters in the supposed pre-Christmas rush period, seafreight exports plummeted by almost 23% in November, according to the latest port performance stats from Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA). Total TEUs handled by the ports were down, from 404 331 to 386 361, while full TEUs also plunged 9.4% – from 293 164 to 265 653. But it was exports that were responsible. Total full TEUs landed (imports) climbed by a slim amount to 170 148 TEUs this November from 169 728 last November. The exports (full TEUs shipped) made for miserable reading, plummeting 22.6% – from 123 436 TEUs last November to a poorly 95 505 this one. Confirmation of this unhappy pre-Christmas period came from Kevin Martin, MD of shorthaul container carrier, Freightliner, and chairman of the Durban Harbour Carriers’ Association (DHCA). “Basically,” he told FTW, “my market is in exports, and they were definitely down in November. “It was my worst month of the year.” But Dave Watts, maritime adviser to the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff), pointed out that the headache was somewhat overcome when other figures were viewed. “Though the year-to-date (YTD) statistics for the port of Durban reflect the national situation,” he told FTW, “all is not doom and gloom.” For example, he added, bulk exports of maize products – at 1.9 million tonnes – exceeded the total of this product exported during the preceding five years added together. Also, the Durban car terminal has handled 418 000 fully built units in the year-to-date – which exceeds previous records, and places the terminal in the position of building an excellent reputation for efficiency among world leaders. But he did add some more gloom when he cited container figures for the first 10 months of 2011. “At the container terminals,” Watts said, “imports of full TEUs are 11.8% above 2010 – and ahead of all previous years. “However, the impact of the global financial crisis continues to drive exports down, with 795 000 TEUs exported YTD, against 867 000 for the same period in 2010 – a drop of 8.3%.”