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Capespan looks to Maputo harbour to increase fruit exports
South Africa
Thursday 20 March 2008
The South African fruit export industry stands to benefit significantly should Maputo harbour's fruit export terminal be upgraded to meet export standards.
Capespan, Southern Africa's largest fruit export and marketing organisation, views Maputo harbour as an alternative export terminal to the overburdened Durban harbour. Capespan's harbour freight handling arm, FPT, currently operates export terminals in Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Maputo.
"Maputo harbour, which has effectively been privatised, is aggressively positioning itself as a competitor to the heavily congested Durban harbour. Richards Bay is for the foreseeable future not a viable alternative to Durban, making Maputo a contender to handle South African imports and exports," says Dr Ferreira, CEO of Capespan's logistics division.
"In addition, Maputo offers a much closer port than Durban to fruit producers in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, presenting enormous potential savings in time and transport costs, particularly for exports to the Far and Middle East, but also to European markets."
However, there has been a need in recent years to upgrade Maputo harbour's export terminal, which is becoming increasingly urgent, especially in terms of handling citrus exports. In particular, there is a requirement for a cold sterilisation facility - in which fruit is stored at temperatures below 0°C for a specific time – for exports to Far East markets.
"South African fruit producers and exporters have signalled that Maputo is a desirable choice, but its viability as a large-scale export harbour needs to be demonstrated before we can secure funding to effect the necessary upgrades. We are seeking to close agreements with producers and exporters to export at least 100 000 pallets of fruit through the terminal in the next year – after which, it is expected, Capespan would be able to secure funding through FPT to upgrade the terminal," says Ferreira.
"Increasing our capacity to export fruit quickly and effectively would not only substantially benefit the fruit-producing industry; it would also stimulate the growth of the fruit export market, which is a national imperative for us."
Capespan, Southern Africa's largest fruit export and marketing organisation, views Maputo harbour as an alternative export terminal to the overburdened Durban harbour. Capespan's harbour freight handling arm, FPT, currently operates export terminals in Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Maputo.
"Maputo harbour, which has effectively been privatised, is aggressively positioning itself as a competitor to the heavily congested Durban harbour. Richards Bay is for the foreseeable future not a viable alternative to Durban, making Maputo a contender to handle South African imports and exports," says Dr Ferreira, CEO of Capespan's logistics division.
"In addition, Maputo offers a much closer port than Durban to fruit producers in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, presenting enormous potential savings in time and transport costs, particularly for exports to the Far and Middle East, but also to European markets."
However, there has been a need in recent years to upgrade Maputo harbour's export terminal, which is becoming increasingly urgent, especially in terms of handling citrus exports. In particular, there is a requirement for a cold sterilisation facility - in which fruit is stored at temperatures below 0°C for a specific time – for exports to Far East markets.
"South African fruit producers and exporters have signalled that Maputo is a desirable choice, but its viability as a large-scale export harbour needs to be demonstrated before we can secure funding to effect the necessary upgrades. We are seeking to close agreements with producers and exporters to export at least 100 000 pallets of fruit through the terminal in the next year – after which, it is expected, Capespan would be able to secure funding through FPT to upgrade the terminal," says Ferreira.
"Increasing our capacity to export fruit quickly and effectively would not only substantially benefit the fruit-producing industry; it would also stimulate the growth of the fruit export market, which is a national imperative for us."
