Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) says the Port of Maputo achieved a record volume of 31.2-million tons in 2023, up 16% on the previous year.

MPDC is a public–private partnership between State-owned Mozambican Railway Company (Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique, or CFM) and Portus Indico, comprising of JSE-listed Grindrod, DP World and local company Mozambique Gestore.

The record volumes at Maputo come as South Africa’s State-owned Transnet group battles inefficiencies at its own ports and on its railway network.

Of the 31.2-million tons handled at Maputo, about 25-million tons were made up of various ores, including chromium, ferrochrome, magnetite, coal, phosphate, vanadium, titanium, copper and vermiculite.

“The handling of these cargoes reflects the diversification strategy on which the Port of Maputo has focused in recent years,” says MPDC CEO Osório Lucas.

He also points to the more balanced distribution of the volumes transported.

While 61% was handled by road, 39% was transported by rail, indicating an increase of 8.4% in rail use compared with the previous year – also a new record for the Port of Maputo.

MPDC notes that the sustainable growth of the transportation corridor continues to be a concern.

“Although there is growth in rail handling, demand for the port has grown exponentially and so we will continue to work with CFM to seek a better balance between rail and road cargo.”

One of the measures adopted by MPDC last year to mitigate road congestion was the opening of a Truck Traffic Management Park in Pessene, which opened in November.

MPDC says the substantial increase in the volume of cargo has had a direct impact on the value of the fixed and variable fees paid to the government of Mozambique.

The company says the Port of Maputo contributed more than $41-million, excluding taxes and dividends, marking a growth of 29% on last year.