Mozambique: Port of Maputo contributed US$46.8 million to state coffers in 2024

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Mozambique: Port of Maputo contributed US$46.8 million to state coffers in 2024

2:28 CAT | 20 Jan 2025

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: DP World]

The Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) has announced a total volume of 30.9 million tonnes of cargo handled in 2024. Although this represents a slight decrease of 1% compared to 2023, the Port of Maputo continued to show resilience and adaptability in the face of significant logistical challenges.

MPDC’s direct operations demonstrated robust growth, handling 14.2 million tonnes, which represents an increase of 14% compared to the previous year.

Road freight volumes recorded significant growth, with an 11% increase year-on-year, from 9.5 million tonnes to 10.7 million tonnes. Rail freight volumes, which have been a critical focus for MPDC’s sustainability strategy, grew by 7%, from 2.8 million tonnes to 3.019 million tonnes. These figures underscore MPDC’s ability to maintain a balanced distribution of transport modes, even in the face of logistical constraints.

The decline in total volumes (all port terminals in the Port of Maputo and Port of Matola) was mainly due to post-election protests and roadblocks in the Maputo corridor, including the closure of the border for several days and the disruption of border and road operations for over a month. The rail corridor between South Africa and Mozambique was also affected by the protests and blockades, along with a derailment in October/November, which led to the closure of the line for a month.

“The Port of Maputo faced a challenging last quarter of the year, but the resilience of our team, together with our continued focus on diversification and efficiency, enabled us to maintain a strong overall operational performance. The growth in our direct operations and transport volumes is a testament to this effort,” said Osório Lucas, MPDC’s Chief Executive Officer.

A key highlight of 2024 was the increase in revenues to the State from concession fees paid to the Government of Mozambique, which increased by 12% to US$46.8 million, compared to US$41.7 million in 2023. This reflects MPDC’s unwavering commitment to contributing to Mozambique’s economic development.

This contribution from MPDC excludes additional revenues to the State, namely from taxes on profits and dividends to its shareholder, the company Caminhos-de-Ferro de Moçambique (CFM).

Looking ahead, 2025 will see the start of major expansion projects at the Port of Maputo, including the long-awaited expansion of the container terminal and the coal terminal, both scheduled to start in the first half of the year.

These projects are two of the main pillars of the concession extension granted in early 2024 and represent a strategic investment in the future growth of the port, ensuring that it remains a key driver of trade and logistics in the region.

Source: MZnews