Shortage of rail wagons creates headaches for Swazi freight industry

IN ITS many years arranging the rail transport for containerised cargo from Swaziland shipped on MSC vessels, MSC Logistics knows well the ins and outs of rail transport from the Matsapha Inland Container Depot outside the firm’s window to Durban. Raw materials come in and agricultural and industrial products go out, but port congestion far from the landlocked country is affecting shipments. “Right now it’s better, but around Christmas it was a disaster. Delays of 53 days!” said company manager Tony Viagas. Trains depart like clockwork from Matsapha at 16:00. daily, and arrive at the Gollel railhead five hours later, where wagons are exchanged. The outgoing containers head to Durban, but incoming is a problem. “Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) is short of wagons. The delays are not in transit – it is still two days to and from Richards Bay – but there are no wagons available for Swazi goods. This is due to port congestion and TFR tells us there is a container shortage of 66 000 units. They are stuck at port,” said Viagas. He is in constant contact with TFR, updating and negotiating. MSC Logistics’ big clients require such hands-on care: the garment makers Tex Ray, Spintex and Leo Garments, Swaziland Fruit Canners, and Swaziland Beverages, which produces Coca-Cola products. Another big shipper is the forestry product firm Sappi whose Swaziland subsidiary produces unbleached wood pulp from locally-grown and harvested pines and bleached wood pulp from Eucalyptus, which is sold to Europe and the Far East, all moving on MSC ships.