Two thirds traded by SA, writes
Ed Richardson
BETWEEN 1995 and 1999 exports of sub-Saharan African countries increased at an average annual rate of 4% in value and 5,1% in volume, while imports rose 6,3% per year in value and 6,9% in volume, according to the Unctad Review of Maritime Transport, 2000 [1].
These trade statistics were also reflected in a rise in total containerised liner cargo transported to and from the region.
That traffic increased at an average annual rate of 2,1% (imports at 0,8% and exports at 3,6%), from two million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 1998 to nearly 2,1 million TEUs in 1999.
Approximately half of these containers are loaded or discharged on the continent's southern coast.
Two thirds of the volume through the southern coast is traded by South Africa. The trade of the west coast accounts for one third of the total.
Coal, iron ore and grain are the major dry bulk cargoes of sub-Saharan Africa.
Coal exports from the southern coast, handled entirely by South Africa, reached 54,8 million tons in 1999.
Iron ore shipments were made from the west and southern coasts, with combined exports of 36,4 million tons.
Grain imports amounted to nearly seven million tons, of which more than half came in through the west coast.
Exports of crude oil represented 157,8 million tons, the majority of which was produced in the west coast (two thirds of the total) and southern coast (one third).
African exporters and importers are hampered by high costs and a lack of capacity.
The total tonnage owned in the region (excluding Liberia, which is an open-registry country; South Africa; and African island countries) has dropped from about two million dwt (0,29% of the world total) in 1980 to 1,2 million dwt (0.15% of the world total) in 1999.
Fleets consist mainly of conventional general cargo vessels and tankers, accounting for 29,1% and 46,4% respectively of the total tonnage registered in the sub-Saharan countries.
No container ships are registered in the region.
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