The Port of Maputo handled 14 million tons of cargo in the first half of this year, representing a 14% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. The reduction in cargo volume is attributed to social unrest and commercial uncertainties that marked the last months of 2024 in the country, reported Bloomberg this Tuesday, July 22.
According to the news agency, this information was provided by Osório Lucas, executive director of the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC), during a virtual interview held this Tuesday (22). He explained that the protests following the general elections on October 9, 2024, negatively impacted port operations, causing delays and logistical uncertainties.
Another factor contributing to the decline was the decrease in ferrochrome exports from South Africa, heavily affected by electricity supply restrictions in that country.
Operated by a consortium that includes the multinational DP World, the Port of Maputo is the largest in the country and plays a crucial role in regional trade and Mozambique’s foreign exchange earnings. It has established itself as a strategic alternative for South African exporters of coal and chrome, who face operational constraints at ports in South Africa.
Despite the decline recorded in the first semester, Osório Lucas assured that volumes have been recovering in recent weeks. “From May until now, we have observed a very sharp recovery. It is rising to levels even higher than last year’s,” he said. The port administration continues to monitor volume trends to assess whether the recovery will persist in the second half of the year.
Source: Diário Económico
