THE Port of Beira continues to record increasing trade volumes, cementing its importance as an engine for accelerated economic growth for Zimbabwe and the region.
Container traffic at the port has soared from just over 30 000containers in 1998 to more than 400 000 last year. This growth is largely attributed to Zimbabwe’s expanding economy, alongside increased trade flows from neighbouring Zambia, Malawi, and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The figures were revealed during a tour of the port by a Zimbabwean business delegation. Cornelder de Mozambique Chief Executive Officer, Jan de Vries, whose firm manages the port, highlighted Zimbabwe’s contribution to this growth.
“We started in 1998, and we were doing 30 000 containers per year. Last year, we had 412 000 containers, and this year, we expect to grow even further,” he said.
“This growth is fuelled by the port of Beira attracting more cargo from inland Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Eastern DRC due to the growth of these economies. Last year, the container terminal grew by close to 30 percent in volumes, and the general cargo terminal grew by 15 percent. This year, we expect another modest growth, and up to now, volumes are up, and weare looking at another 10 to 15 percent growth this year.
“From Zimbabwe, the volumes are very encouraging, and on the import side, we have seen more imports. Last year, we did 70 000 containers into Zimbabwe, and on the export side, we saw a boom happening. We have a lot of lithium products that are coming to the port of Beira. We have also traditional commodities like chrome and granite, agricultural products like tea and tobacco.”
To keep up with the increasing volumes, the Port of Beira is undergoing expansion by adding storage space, new equipment, and modernising handling systems.
“We are continuing to invest, and currently we are waiting for the arrival of new and bigger cranes that can handle even bigger vessels. They will be able to hold vessels that can bring 10 000 containers at once. We are also expanding our yard so that we can store more containers. We want to continue serving the Zimbabwean market, which is very important for us,” added de Vries.
Zimbabwe’s head of the trade mission to Beira, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, reiterated the government’s commitment to upgrading Forbes Border Post to accelerate economic growth.
“We are very happy to be at the port of Beira, but, what reallyexcited us is that the statistics we have been given which have exhibited that since the coming in of the Second Republic, ably led by Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe’s trade and economic development activities have quadrupled.
“This is a clear sign that our President is guiding our country in the right direction. You will notice that the Beira Corridor is the smoothest and safest route from the sea to the hinterland, and what is only left for us as a country is to make sure the border, which the President has sanctioned to be improved is revamped. Once that has been done, I can tell you that the economy of Zimbabwe, together with the economy ofMozambique itself, will continue to grow.
“It is also encouraging to cherish the relationship between Zimbabwe and Mozambique which continues to grow from strength to strength,” he said.
In 2021, a World Bank report, with a study of 370 ports aroundthe world based on factors such as efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness, including the waiting time of ships in port, ranked the Port of Beira as the most efficient container port in Southern Africa.
