A survey undertaken by USAID has identified a shortage of handling equipment at the Mozambican ports of Beira and Nacala. At the latter, for example, existing equipment can only satisfy about 35% of current needs. Despite this, it noted that both ports are gradually positioning themselves as regional hubs, attracting ever more traffic from East and West Africa.
Increased demand at Beira has come about given completion of emergency dredging of the access channel, which was completed in July 2011.
Worryingly, the study also concluded that neither Mozambican port can offer significant advantages in terms of productivity and efficiency compared to other Eastern and Southern African ports with which it competes.
Barry Cross