Bots Military Army Imports Contributes To Growth Of Walvis Port …as container exports and imports increase

By:Justicia Shipena
The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has announced an increase in container exports and imports of various commodities in its February 2023 quayside bulletin.
According to the abulletin, charcoal has shown a 39% increase in volume due to high demand in the European markets.
Copper exports experienced a 16% increase.
“This is due to the benefits of containerization such as improved security, reduced cargo damage and faster turnaround times,”the state-owned entity said.
Other commodities that have seen growth in export volumes include frozen fish, frozen meat, salt bagged, wooden products and steel, which have seen an increase of 178% due to high demand in key markets.
“On the other hand, malt imports have grown by 52%, driven by the strong performance of Namibian beer products in emerging markets such as South Africa and Tanzania,” Namport said.
The importation of machinery increased by 52% due to new mining developments in neighbouring countries such as Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Botswana.
Namport also revealed that despite some declines, such as a 36% decrease in vehicle imports due to a shift in shipping routes, Namibia’s ports have experienced an overall positive growth in imports and exports.
“The rise of 8% in household and personal effects imports was mainly attributed to the return of regional residents to their home countries, primarily from Zambia and Zimbabwe.”
Furthermore, Namport said dangerous cargo imports for the military army of Botswana contributed to the overall growth of the Port of Walvis Bay.
“There is good news for growth in the final quarter of the financial year, thanks to the growing demand for exports primarily to Zambia and Botswana.”
The state entity added that the port of Walvis Bay experienced a remarkable surge in volume in ammonium nitrate importation, as well as a 23% growth in sulphur importation.
Namport said the positive growth of the port of Walvis Bay in commodities and exports is a good sign for the Namibian economy and the region as a whole.
“The increased demand for exports to neighbouring countries is expected to continue, leading to a further increase in the growth of Namibia’s ports,” it said.
On the just-ended Cape Town Mining Indaba, a Namport team consisting of the CEO, executives, Business Development Manager, Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) CEO and Business Development Manager attended the conference to strengthen relationships, discuss challenges, and explore ways to increase volumes through Namibian corridors and ports.
The conference took place from 6 to 9 February 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa.
At that conference the team engaged with commodity traders, mining houses, and logistics companies to encourage them to redirect their cargo towards Namibia’s Walvis Bay and Lüderitz ports.
“The Namport team was pleased with the positive response they received and the potential business opportunities that exist. By building strong relationships with clients, Namport is well-positioned to become a major player in the region’s logistics industry,” Namport said.
With its strategic location and well-equipped ports, Namport is poised to offer world-class services to clients from all over the world.