Talks under way over Moz scanning fees

CARGO OWNERS and shippers
through the port of Maputo
in Mozambique are still being
bedevilled by X-ray scanning fees
on all cargo – regardless of whether
it has been scanned or not.
A scanning charge is levied on all
containers and it also hits all other
cargo, including bagged and bulk
cargo such as coal, ferrochrome,
citrus fruit, sugar and granite. Where
any of these cargoes are costsensitive,
the extra scanning fee
(not charged at SA ports) reduces
Maputo’s price-competitiveness
in winning SA cargo, according to
shippers and forwarders.
But sensitive negotiations are
under way between port operators,
the Maputo Port Development
Company (MPDC) – representing
all the cargo interests – and the
government-approved scanning
operation, Kadumba.