Volumes of freight travelling
along the Walvis Bay-Ndola-
Lubumbashi Development Corridor
are expected to grow from
720 000 tons in 2013 to over
a million in 2014, according to
Andrew Sinyangwe Jr, Walvis
Bay Corridor Group business
development manager.
“We are now handling every kind
of cargo, and not just copper and
chemicals,” he says.
Volumes of fast moving consumer
goods and vehicles are both growing.
There is also an increase in
project cargo.
“The corridor is
being used for
abnormal loads
bound for the
new mines in
the central parts
of Zambia.
“For one
project we will
be carrying over
80 000 tons of
out-of-gauge
cargo along the
route shortly,” he
says.
There is also greater balance in
the movement of freight as the mines
and other exporters use Walvis Bay
to export cargo bound for Europe
and the Americas although the trade
imbalance still remains a problem
with a need for export cargo to create
a balance.
The volumes have attracted fresh
investment by hauliers.
Namibian and Zambian
companies are forming joint ventures
in order to service the route, he says.
And he believes this will help
reduce the transport costs along the
corridor.
Rates will be driven down by a
combination of competition and
greater efficiencies.
“Zambian transporters are
introducing their own customers
to the route through the new
partnerships. That means the trucks
have freight going both ways,” he says.
INSERT & CAPTION
The corridor is being used
for abnormal loads bound
for the new mines in the
central parts of Zambia.
– Andrew Sinyangwe Jr
CAPTION
Growth in freight volumes expected on Walvis Bay-Ndola-
Lubumbashi corridor
