Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) handled a total volume of 30.9-million tons last year – 1% less than in 2023.
MPDC’s direct operations moved 14.2-million tons, an increase of 14% on the previous year.
Road volumes increased by 11% year-on-year, rising from 9.5-million tons to 10.7-million tons.
Rail volumes, which have been a critical focus in terms of MPDC’s sustainability strategy, grew by 7%, from 2.8-million tons to 3.019-million tons.
The slight decrease in total volumes for 2024 – at all terminals from the Port of Maputo and the Port of Matola – was primarily the result of post-election protests, South Africa–Mozambique border closures, as well as road blockages along the Maputo corridor.
The rail corridor from South Africa to Mozambique was also affected by protests and blockages, paired with a derailment in October/November, which led to a month-long shutdown.
“The Port of Maputo faced a challenging last quarter of the year, but our team’s resilience, coupled with our continued focus on diversification and efficiency, enabled us to maintain strong operational performance overall,” says MPDC CEO Osório Lucas.
“The growth in our direct operations and transport volumes is a testament to this effort.”
Last year also saw an increase in concession fees paid to the government of Mozambique, up 12%, to $46.8-million, compared with $41.7-million in 2023.
Looking ahead, this year will see the start of expansion projects at the Port of Maputo, including the expansion of the container terminal and the coal terminal, set to kick off during the first semester.
These projects are two main pillars of the concession extension granted at the beginning of 2024. 