The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) handled a record-breaking eight million tonnes of cargo during the financial year ending 31 March 2024.
This is in comparison to the 7,7 million tonnes of cargo handled in the previous financial year, representing a 4 per cent increase.
A media release issued by the company’s Executive for Commercial Services, Elias Mwenyo on Monday, stated that the major contributor to this growth was the exportation of goods including salt, copper concentrate, bagged salt, frozen fish, manganese ore, and zinc/lead concentrate.
Bulk salt exports saw growth of 10 per cent, copper concentrate increased by 12 per cent, and bagged salt exports witnessed a 1 per cent rise.
Frozen fish exports surged by 29 per cent, manganese ore increased by 15.7 per cent, zinc/lead concentrates grew by 2.9 per cent and marble increased by 41 per cent.
‘During the financial year 2023/2024, there were significant increases in the importation of various commodities. Notably, petroleum surged, representing
a substantial 26 per cent increase,’ he noted.
According to Mwenyo, other imported commodities that also experienced noteworthy growth, included copper concentrate, ammonium nitrate, wheat, ships spares and steel.
Additionally, the authority recorded a commendable 7.9 per cent increase in the importation of goods in comparison to the previous financial year.
‘During the financial period ended, the number of vessels calling at Namibian ports surged by 29 per cent year on year, escalating from 1 636 to 2 115 calls, primarily driven by increased activity across various vessel categories, including foreign tugs and dry bulk vessels.’
The year under review also recorded an increased occupancy rate of syncrolift facilities, where repair jetties’ occupancy rose from 64 per cent to 96 per cent, while bay occupancy lagged at 47 per cent compared to 52 per cent in the previous year.
The syncrolift is a piece of equipment for lifting boats, ships and vessels onto land for maintenance work or repairs.
The success o
f Namport’s operations, according to Mwenyo, can be attributed to building and maintaining solid relationships with key stakeholders such as the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, shipping lines, cargo owners, government agencies, and the larger port community.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency