TPT predicts 10% container growth in five years

Despite the drastic fall-off in volumes from September to March, there is some cause for optimism at Transnet Port Terminals. Chief operating officer Solly Letsoalo told a Cape Town business-to-business briefing last week that volumes in all sectors were predicted to grow over the next five years with containers up 10%, to 4.8 million TEUs by 2013/14, bulk volumes up 9%, breakbulk 8% and automotive 5%. This after container port volumes dipped 12%, from 2.0l8 million TEUs to 1.782mn between September and March. Dry bulk was down slightly over the same period, 61 million metric tonnes from 62 million metric tonnes but the worst performer was automotive, minus 24%. On rail volumes, general freight business was down 19%, from 42.7 million metric tonnes in September to 34.5 million metric tonnes between September and March, coal up slightly, 29.9 million to 32 million metric tonnes, and iron ore up from 15.9 million to 20.9 million metric tonnes. Letsoalo says no matter what some may think, South Africa faces competition from the likes of Dar es Salaam, Maputo, Walvis Bay, Luanda, Madagascar and Mauritius, all of which are essentially addressing the same market – that from Europe to Asia – and this is where Ngqura has an all-important role to play. South Africa is strategically positioned to handle some cargo moving around the Cape from Europe to Asia and vice versa and Ngqura, as a hub. will create additional growth opportunities for the country. Letsoalo says from a cost perspective Ngqura will certainly benefit cargo owners as transhipment from Mauritius is much more expensive. He said Transnet remained committed to the ‘corridor approach’ in the interests of maximising growth opportunities across all its operating divisions (rail, port and pipeline). It is also committed to supporting Black Empowerment companies, a spend of R461 million in 2005 increasing to R1.9 billion last year and R556 million alone in the first quarter of this year.