Swaziland beef exporters continue to snub Durban

CT for now with Maputo a future option JAMES HALL MBABANE – Swaziland’s meat exports will continue to be shipped out of Cape Town, instead of the closer port of Durban, the kingdom’s main abattoir told FTW last week. “Cape Town offers everything we need, the congestion at the port has not affected us, and the increased travel distance is not really a factor,” said Jon Williams, managing director for Swaziland Meat Industries (SMI), which handles all the country’s meat exports. Although Swazi beef is purchased by buyers in Cape Town and other South African customers, the main international market is Europe. By treaty, the European Union is committed to purchasing an annual quota of Swazi beef, currently 3 363 tonnes of boneless hindquarter. Airfreight is avoided because cut beef and carcasses are adequately preserved in road and ship refrigerated containers. “Durban is one-third closer, but the transport savings are only around 25%. Cape Town has refrigerated ships, but Durban ships require refrigerated containers (that are plugged in),” said Williams. The port of Maputo may also be an option once that facility is rehabilitated. Meanwhile, a consortium of South African trucking firms specialising in refrigerated products are transporting Swazi beef. Ironically, Swaziland is a net importer of beef, cattle mostly from South Africa, which are fattened at government ranches before slaughter at SMI. Cattle are plentiful in Swaziland, but because of their cultural value, Swazis are reluctant to part with their prized bovines.