SA port inefficiency puts a damper on trade growth

SA PORT delays and often-questionable productivity levels at the port of Durban in particular continue to bedevil burgeoning trade between Asia and South Africa, says Mitsui OSK Lines marketing manager Iain McIntosh. “One of the biggest challenges is getting our ships into ports and getting them out in time. “We, as other carriers, are being considerably delayed and imports and exports are suffering as a result.” In contrast to Durban, the container terminals at Port Elizabeth and Cape Town are less problematic, says McIntosh who recalls that four cranes were recently utilised simultaneously in the Mother City port to get an MOL vessel out on time. As for Asia-South Africa growth, he expects volumes to be up on last year, the pattern over the last two or three years anything between 15% and 20% . “The Asia-South Africa trade augurs well for MOL but unfortunately it comes at a price because it is putting more pressure on the Durban port system; that, really, is the key message. The port is killing all carriers because there are simply too many delays.” MOL operates a weekly Singapore-Durban shuttle service, ZAX, with four 1 500 teu ships. While not commenting on specific ZAX volumes, McIntosh says volumes are strong on this berth and exports from South Africa to Asia are also showing signs of improvement.