DESPITE the gloom over Transnet National Port Authority’s (TPNA) proposed 14.39% port tariff hike, business is expected to boom in coming months at the Port of Richards Bay.
Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) has boasted an impressive 8% export increase for September, with 5.6 million metric tonnes of coal shipped off last month after a three-month low in August.
As the world’s largest export coal terminal, it is anticipated to hit record export levels of about 70 million tonnes for this year, with higher volumes typically expected from coal exporters in the three months leading to year-end.
According to the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Treasury’s latest statistics for local port movements, imports and exports activities started rising three months ago when total cargo handled climbed from 6.6 million metric tonnes in June to over 8 million in July.
Gross tonnage of vessels also escalated from 5.6 million to 5.8 million during the same period.
The hustle and bustle at the port caught the attention of the European Union (EU) trade councillors from several European embassies.
Last week they met with the TPNA management, Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) members and the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZCCI) to ‘strengthen ties’ with the port and local industries.
‘This port is very active and we’d like to establish a strong relationship between KZN and the European Union,’ said EU Ambassador Roeland van de Geer.
‘While the port only imports 6 million tonnes, it exports over 85 million tonnes, 54% of which goes to Europe,’ he said.’
Europe annually imports just under 41 million tonnes of products from the Port of Richards Bay, which predominantly consists of 39 million tonnes of dry bulk.
