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Nigerian Ports cargo throughput rises to 86.6m metric tons

By on March 14, 2015

The Nigerian seaports recorded 86.6 million metric tons in cargo throughput in 2014, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said.

Cargo throughput is the total volume of cargo (inward and outward) handled in all the port locations during the period under review, excluding crude oil terminals. The record of cargo throughput in 2014 showed an increase of 12.64 per cent over the 2013 figure of 76,886,997 metric tons. Assistant General Manager, Public Relations, at the NPA, Mr. Iliya Musa, said in a statement that liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment topped the figure with 21,679,330 metric tons, indicating an increase of 12.1 per cent over 19,341,663 metric tons in 2013.

According to the statement, the Nigerian LNG has maintained its reputation as a reliable and secure supplier of LNG.This has been the major contributor to the continued growth of its shipment and results posted in the last year under review.

The authority said in the year under review, there was a strong growth in the general cargo trade as it recorded 14,502,263metric tons, an increase of 21.2 per cent over 11,964,978 metric tons in 2013 while dry bulk stood at 9,843,199 metric tons.

This it added, showed an increase of 3.2 per cent over the 9,537,442 metric tons achieved in 2013.

A further breakdown of the figures showed that refined petroleum was 20,736,699 metric tons. This is an increase of 6.8 per cent over 19,416,043 metric tons in 2013.

While laden container throughput was 1,063,380 TEUs, a growth of 5.2 per cent over 1,010,836 TEUs in 2013 while empty container throughput was 790,586 TEUs, an increase of 10.3 per cent over 717,011 TEUs in 2013.This shows that Nigeria remains a significant hub of containerized goods in the West and Central Africa.

Crude oil shipment stood at 107,880,239 metric tons, an increase of 0.2 per cent over 107,686,011 metric tons in 2013.

In the same vein, 5,541, oceans going vessels with a total gross registered tonnage (GRT) of 147,852,920 gross tons called at Nigerian ports.

The authority said in the period under review, Lagos Port Complex (LPC) recorded a gross registered tonnage of 36,969,456, showing an increase of 7.2 per cent over 34,466,291 gross tons achieved in the same period of 2013.

Tin Can Island Port recorded a gross registered tonnage (GRT) of 50,011,289, indicating 17 per cent increase over the corresponding period of 2013 which was 42,758,161 gross tons.

According to the authority, Calabar Port Complex recorded a total GRT of 4,085,903 showing an increase of 46.3 per cent compare with 2,792,488 gross tons recorded in 2013. Rivers Port Complex recorded a total GRT of 7,304,591, representing 14.2per cent growth over 6,394,270 gross tons achieved in the corresponding period of 2013.

On the other hand, Onne Port Complex recorded a GRT of 41,854,687. This reflects an increase of 7.4 per cent over 38,967,131 gross tons recorded in the corresponding period of 2013.

Similarly, Delta Port Complex recorded 7,626,994 GRT. This showed an increase of 21.1 per cent over the year 2013 figure of 6,295,995 gross tons.

The authority said the increase in cargo throughput in the last three years have confirmed that shown that Nigerian ports are more efficient that they were in the pre-concession era.

“Our ports recorded increase in GRT of vessels mainly due to the capital and maintenance dredging of the channel by our Joint Venture (JV) companies. The JVC are the Lagos Channel Management Company Limited (LCM) for the management of the Lagos channel and the Bonny Channel Management Company Limited (BCC) for the management of the Bonny channel”, it added.

Managing Director, NPA, Alhaji Habib Abdullahi said that the authority was on course in the discharge of its statutory roles and responsibilities.

He said the authority has continued to pay attention to improving existing port infrastructures in the areas of rehabilitation of port quay walls and aprons, deepening of our channels, upgrading of our common user facilities and wreck removal from our channels.

Abdullahi explained that the resultant effect was the biggest vessel with a length overall 232.33 meters and capacity of 4,500 TEUS requiring draught of 13.5 meters that has started visiting the nation’s ports.

The NPA boss attributed the successes to what he called the “consistent dredging campaign” carried out by the JVCs.

 

[ThisDay]