Zimbabwean chrome starts moving through Beira

The lifting of a ban on the export of bulk chrome ore by the Zimbabwean government is set to see bulk exports grow through the port of Beira, and will also address a regional shortage of containers. “2018 started with the port of Beira seeing the first bulk export of chrome since Zimbabwe lifted the ban on chrome exports,” says Kanishk Jaiswal of Mozambique Vessel Agency (MVA), which is part of the J&J group. Chrome exporters in Zimbabwe have been moving large volumes through Beira over the last two years in containers in order to comply with the ban, he says. “However, increased productivity and a rise in the number of transporters over the last year led to new challenges as shipping lines were unable to meet this increased demand for empty containers." According to Jaiswal, MVA was the first to agency to change modalities after the lifting of the ban. “In coordination with sister companies J&J Transport and Independent Beira Logistics Terminals (IBLTS), MVA was able to offer our clients an all-in solution for the bulk export of 10 000 metric tons of chrome ore via the port of Beira.  “Between mid-December 2017 and early January 2018, the chrome was transported from Zimbabwe to Beira in bulk by road. “It was stored in a warehouse in the port, from where it was loaded onto the Clipper Nassau using skips. “The vessel loading took five days and by January 12 all 10 000MT of bulk chrome was successfully loaded for export to final destination.”