Maputo eyes South African trade

There are inherent difficulties with the bid which requires certain conditions that the Indonesian government might find difficult to approve.

Unlike either Richards Bay or Durban in neighbouring South Africa, Maputo still has significant room for expansion.

Currently the port averages two vessel calls per day with exports for Mozambique and South African raw materials, products and crops. Maputo, which is ideally placed to serve South Africa’s industrial heartland, has already dredged its access channel, which is now free of sunken vessels dating back to the 16-year civil war, which ended in 1992. The port aims to open a specialist car terminal for South African exports which could handle around 45,000 units a year.