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19 Jan 2020

Port stats for December

Gugu Myeni ( Zululand Observer)

OUT of a total of 18,9 million tons of cargo handled at the country’s ports in December, Richards Bay handled the highest volume, with 7,9 million tons shifted. This is according to Transnet National Ports Authority’s latest statistics. The total tonnage recorded last month in Richards Bay was, however, a substantial decrease compared to the 9,8 million tons handled in November.

Of the total cargo handled, 7,6 million tons was dry bulk, while 207 879 tons was liquid bulk and 87 600 tons break bulk. The local port also handled 483 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers, 240 of which landed at the port and 243 shipped.

Of the 140 vessel arrivals with a gross tonnage of 5,7 million, 112 vessels moved general cargo, 18 were tankers transporting oil, chemical and liquefied petroleum gas, as well as one passenger vessel.

Richards Bay has the largest dry bulk terminal in the country and handles approximately 54% of total dry bulk cargo. According to Transnet’s financial results last year, Richards Bay’s dry bulk terminal’s loading rate improved from 823 tons per hour to 864 tons.