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.