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Cargo traffic at Port of Mombasa dips by 2 per cent

Wednesday, May 27th, 2020 00:00 | By
The Port of Mombasa. Photo/PD/FILE

Monica Kagia

Cargo throughput at the Port of Mombasa for the period January to April  declined by 2.1 per cent, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has said.

The port recorded a total of 11.3 million tonnes of cargo against 11.6 million tonnes handled in the corresponding period in 2019. 

KPA acting managing director Rashid Salim attributed the decline to decreased loose cargo import.

The port recorded slowed handling of iron and steel at 4.9 per cent and motor vehicles at 23.6 per cent.

KPA said the port handled 445,435 twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) compared to 454,466 TEUs handled in the corresponding period in 2019, representing a two per cent decline. 

“The decline was occasioned by a decrease in the handling of exports and transshipment, which recorded a negative variance of 3.3 per cent and a 9.2 per cent respectively,” KPA said in a statement.

Raft of measures

Total container traffic was below the set target of 447,576 TEUs by 32,141 TEUs which represents 7.2 per cent during the period under review.

“The raft of measures put in place have paid off as port performance has been spared a major slump during this Covid-19 crisis,” he said. 

At the same time, business at the facility got a major boost following the arrival of the first container vessel deployed under the Asea service line arrangement commonly known as “School Bus”.

“Marking her maiden call into the calm waters of the sheltered Kilindini harbour, CMA CGM group vessel Mv Blue Whale validates efforts towards sustenance of the vibrant global maritime trade amidst the current plight of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Salim.

The vessel was laden with 5,095 containers and was expected to perform 3,800 moves.

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