Namport weathers the storm

Despite the ongoing challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic in various parts of the world and the disruption of global supply chains, the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has managed to grow stronger and more resilient.

The past year has seen a rise in several global challenges, including geopolitical uncertainty, extreme weather in various parts of the world, and the rising cost of living, all of which have impacted the logistics and supply chain management industry.

Namport, however, delivered a solid financial performance for the period from 1 April 2022 to 31 December 2022 despite poor economic conditions and industry-wide challenges, including the shortage of ships and containers.

With the current financial year ending on 31 March 2023, highlights of Namport’s performance over the past 9 months include an increase in vessel calls by 6%, with vessel gross tonnages increasing by 2.1 million, or 15%, year on year. The total cargo handled by Namport increased by 18%, or 820,243 tonnes, compared to the same period in 2021. In addition, bulk and break-bulk cargo increased by 25%, from 3 million tonnes handled during the same period in 2021 to 3.8 million in 2022.

The number of TEUs handled, however, decreased by 7%, mainly due to the decreased number of transshipment containers handled. Namport handled 1.7 million tonnes of cargo. The overall volume throughput for the Port of Walvis Bay also saw an increase of 8.12% for imports and 57.91% for exports.

The top 3 commodities exported from the Port of Walvis Bay over this period were bulk and bagged salt and petroleum products. The top 3 commodities imported were copper concentrates, sulphuric acid, and wheat. Petroleum and wet fish are the top two imported commodities for the Port of Lüderitz, with manganese ore and zinc concentrates and ore as its top two exported commodities.

The occupancy of the Syncrolift jetties was 65%. This is an increase from the previous year’s 57%, while the bay’s occupancy was 56%, up from the previous year’s 48%.

Namport also recorded an impressive 87% increase in passenger vessel calls for 2022/2023 in comparison to the 2021/2022 financial year. The Namibian Ports Authority attributed the increase in passenger vessels to the maritime industry’s positive strides towards recovery from the recent pandemic that had negatively impacted holidaymakers’ travel due to the restrictions imposed worldwide from 2019 until 2022.

Commenting on the ongoing process of concessioning the new container terminal at the Port of Walvis Bay, Namport CEO, Andrew Kanime, said that the parties to the envisaged transaction, Namport and Terminal Investment Limited (TIL), remain seized with finalising the terms, conditions, and all attendant schedules for the concession. “We appreciate the interest shown in this watershed development and will, in due course, make the appropriate and necessary public pronouncements once the process has been completed.”