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Business Reporter
MOZAMBICAN Port authority, Cornelder de Moçambique (CdM), has expanded capacity at the port of Beira to improve the turnaround time for grain destined for Zimbabwe. This comes as private grain processing companies expect to import more than 250 000 tonnes of maize in the next three months. CdM, a private joint venture between Moçambique Ports and Railways (CFM) and Cornelder Holdings said it has enough capacity to handle grain destined for Zimbabwe.

“Because of the food relief in excess of one million tonnes of maize required for Zimbabwe we feel and we are confident that we will be able to handle most of this cargo through our ports,” CdM said. In that regard, CdM has acquired additional capacity to ensure that grain is processed within the shortest period of time.

“We have worked hard in the last few weeks to ensure that food imports can reach the people as soon as possible. We quickly acquired additional bagging machines, materials handlers and maize debunking trailers and have created in record time a new bulk maize facility that can handle around 5 000 tonnes of maize per day and store over 20 000 tonnes. This will complement our existing bio-grain terminal and key side bagging operations.

“We are confident that the Port of Beira can handle the challenge nature has thrown at our region. With its modern facilities and emergency measures in place the port can handle all relief cargo without interrupting normal flows of cargo that drives the regional economy,” the company said.

Zimbabwe, like other regional countries, is battling the effects of an El Nino induced drought.

An International Monetary Fund Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa said severe shocks which include the El Nino induced drought has put millions of people at risk of food insecurity.

To counter this, private sector players in the grain processing sector are importing more than 700 000 tonnes of grain, to supplement Government’s efforts.

The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ), the umbrella body for millers, said more than 100 000 metric tonnes have already been imported under its private sector maize importation program.

“Another 250 000 metric tonnes is expected in the next 90 days with part of it in transit. This development securely ensures adequate maize supplies for the various related food provisions to the key economic sectors such as livestock farming, wholesale and retailers,” GMAZ chairman Tafadzwa Musarara said.

The expansion of the port will ensure fast and efficient grain movement. The SADC region faced challenges in moving grain through the region, particularly congestion at ports, according to a Trade Intelligence Report produced by The Agricultural Business Chamber.

The report said emerging concerns relate to the potential traffic congestion at the ports and roads considering that 80 percent of all grain transported inland in the region is moved by road.

Congestion at ports and roads may affect the turn-around time of grain trucks, according to the trade report.

“If the region becomes entirely dependent on deep sea imports, it brings the important question of whether the port capacity will manage to handle an unprecedented level of grain imports,” the report said.

“The question of whether infrastructural capacity is sufficient to meet at least 6,2 million tonnes of maize imports, and an additional five million tonnes of other grains – such as rice, soybean and soybean oilcake, wheat, among others – is a question that is yet to be answered satisfactorily. It is clear that there is likely going to be a significant amount of maize and other grains that will be imported from outside the region, with the likely sources being Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, the United States of America and the Ukraine,” the TIR said.

“This point is particularly important if we consider that 80 percent of all grain transported inland is moved by road. The potential problem of traffic congestion could be averted, or at the very least, reduced by the possibility of increasing the use of rail transport as an alternative,” the report said.