Low volumes of cargo during November 2021

PHILLEPUS UUSIKUDuring the month of November 2021, exports amounting to N$5 billion, representing 56.6% of total exports left the country by sea, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) trade statistics.This translated into an increase of 22.7% when compared to its October 2021 level of N$4.1 billion. Similarly, a decrease of 2.7% was observed when compared to its level of N$4.8 billion recorded in November 2020. Air and road transportation accounted for 27.7% and 20.1% of total exports, respectively.According to the agency’s transport sectoral report, the transport composite cargo index that consists of rail, road, air and sea cargo recorded a decline on a monthly basis by 8.5% in November 2021 compared to a reduction of 12.8% registered in October 2021. Furthermore, the index recorded a decline of 11.6%, year-on-year.The decline recorded on monthly basis emanates mainly from low volumes of cargo for consignments of exports and imports transported during November 2021 through sea that amounted to 500 991 tonnes of goods.The rail cargo index for November 2021 declined by 1.3% month-on-month compared to a growth of 1.1% registered in October 2021. Furthermore, the rail cargo index declined by 16.1% year on year worse off when compared to a reduction of 4.4% recorded in the corresponding month of 2020.The decline recorded on monthly basis is mainly attributed to low volume of cargo for copper concentrate and manganese ore transported via rail. For the month under review, a total 122 938 tonnes of goods were transported via rail cargo, NSA said.The road cargo index declined monthly posting a reduction of 2.0% in November 2021 lower than a growth of 8.3% recorded in October 2021. On annual basis the index increased registering a slow growth of 6.9%.ProductsThe decline recorded on monthly basis is mainly attributed to low volumes of predominantly live poultry, dried vegetables, olive oils, frozen fish, petroleum oils, milk and cream. For the month under review, 379 542 tonnes of goods were transported via road.In addition, the air cargo index registered a monthly increase of 3.4% in November 2021. However, this indicated a slow growth when compared to a growth of 17.9% registered in October 2021. Furthermore, on an annual basis, the index went up by 50.3% from a reduction of 45.6% recorded in the corresponding period of 2020, the agency said.The increase recorded on monthly basis were mainly reflected on high volume of consignments that amounted to 463 tonnes. The consignments were mainly for medical appliances, electrical apparatus, processing machines, purifying machinery, fresh fish, seed and fruits transported via air cargo.Moreover, the sea cargo index that consists of sea-landed, sea-shipped and sea trans-shipped registered a decline of 14.3% month-on-month, upward from a deterioration of 24.7% recorded in October 2021. Similarly, the index declined on annual basis by registering a reduction of 20.9%.The monthly decline recorded in the sea cargo index is mainly attributed to sea-transhipped and sea-landed that recorded reductions of 97.4 and 24.1%, respectively.The sea trans shipped index declined on a monthly basis, registering a massive deterioration of 97.4% during the month under review, further downward from a reduction of 82.4% that was recorded in October 2021.The decline recorded on monthly basis is mainly reflected in the low volume of trans-shipments of frozen fish and general items that were trans-shipped through the port of Walvis Bay.A total of only 314 tonnes were transhipped by sea during the month of November 2021 when compared to 12 247 tonnes and 3 546 tonnes in October 2021 and November 2020, respectively.The sea landed index declined by 24.1% on monthly basis during November 2021. This is worse-off, when compared to a growth of 2.7% recorded in the previous month. Over the year, the index reduced by 24.9% from a growth of 36.6% recorded in the corresponding period of 2020, NSA added.VolumesThe decline registered on monthly basis was mainly accredited to the low volumes of landed frozen fish, petroleum, vehicles on own wheels and spare parts imported through the port of Walvis Bay and Luderitz, respectively.A total of 257 163 tonnes were landed by sea during the month of November 2021 when compared to 339 013 tonnes and 342 464 tonnes in October 2021 and November 2020, respectively.The sea shipped index for November 2021 increased by 4.4% month-on-month, upward from a deterioration of 38.0% recorded in the preceding month. However, on a yearly basis, the sea shipped index declined, registering a reduction of 15.3% worse-off when compared to a growth of 63.4% recorded during the same period in 2020.The increase recorded on a monthly basis mainly emerged from high volume of frozen fish, salt and manganese ore exports shipped in bulk through the ports of Walvis Bay and Luderitz, respectively. A total of 243 513 tonnes were shipped by sea during the month of November 2021, the agency pointed out.The total volume of cargo transported by sea in November 2021 amounted to 500 991 tonnes compared to 584 453 tonnes recorded in the preceding month. Whereas, the total volume of cargo transported by sea for November 2020 stood at 633 672 tonnes.Overall, Namibia transported 1 003 933 tonnes of cargo, compared to 1 096 841 tonnes and 1 135 602 tonnes that were transported in October 2021 and the corresponding period of 2020, respectively, NSA said.-phillep@nmh.com.na

Low volumes of cargo during November 2021

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-02

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Low volumes of cargo during November 2021

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-02

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