Growth in Zimbabwean traffic has contributed to the Port of Beira’s busiest year since Cornelder was awarded the concession to manage it.“The year 2021 was very challenging but in the end a success. The global container crisis put a strain on container traffic in the second half of the year, but nonetheless we’ve managed to achieve a return to growth after two difficult years with cyclones and Covid,” Cornelder de Moçambique managing director, Jan de Vries, told Freight News. A total of 278 582 TEUs was handled, which is 4.6% higher than the previous record of 266 336 TEUs set in 2018. “The container crisis forced container cargo to move to general cargo ships, which is challenging because cargo such as copper cathodes and loose bags of rice or fertiliser are much more efficient to handle in containers.” Total general cargo volumes grew to 3 301 679 metric tons, which is a 5.4% increase over the previous record of 3 132 404 tons set in 2020.According to Cornelder de Moçambique commercial director Leticia Ferreira, the volumes of particularly Zimbabwean imports and exports through the Port of Beira remained “robust” through the Covid-19 pandemic.“However, Zimbabwe has not been spared the challenges in the international shipping. Ocean freight rates have increased due to vessel delays and equipment shortages. There is generally, however, a positive outlook for Zimbabwe traffic through Beira,” she says.Overall there is an increased and sustained trust in the Beira Corridor. This is evident in new investment in depots and warehouses around the port to cater for the growing corridor volumes, says Ferreira.Export volumes of general cargo from Zimbabwe through Beira increased by 7.5% between 2020 and 2021 – from 494 872 metric tons to 531 900 tons. Import volumes grew by 19.7%, from 423 172 tons in 2020 to 506 548 tons in 2021.Mozambique Ports and Railways (CFM) has added 50 wagons to serve the Machipanda line between the Port of Beira and the border with Zimbabwe.According to reports, work on a $200-million upgrade and rehabilitation of the line started in 2020 and is due to be completed in 2022.Road volumes are also growing, with road transporters investing in new trucks and thanks to the establishment of new trucking service providers, according to Ferreira.Demand, she says, is still outstripping supply. “There are several opportunities in logistics to service the ever-increasing cargo, especially an increase in inland transport capacity,” adds Ferreira. She expects volumes to continue growing because Beira offers lower inland transport costs compared to other ports serving the hinterland, which helps cargo owners to offset the higher ocean container shipping rates.
