Communication - Presse
Port of Nacala records growth in cargo handling in 2024
The Port of Nacala reached a historic milestone in mid-December 2024, handling 1.4 million tons – corresponding to 100,000 20-foot containers (TEUs) – despite the effects of the post-election protests. In the previous year, the port handled 1.3 million tons of various goods.
The data was provided by the Executive Director for the North of the Ports and Railways of Mozambique (CFM), Augusto Abudo.
The volume of cargo handled in 2024 refers to imports, exports and in transit to and from neighbouring countries but also new markets in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.
“In mid-December 2024, we reached for the first time a historic milestone of 100,000 TEUs handled (embarkation and unloading). This is a historic high for container handling at the Port of Nacala,” said Abudo. According to Abudo, all of these TEUs were transported on 124 ships.
Augisto Abudo emphasized that achieving this historic production represents a compliance of almost 100% with the plan for 2024 to handle 102,000 TEUs and the annual production of the Port’s three terminals (containers, general cargo and liquid bulk) which make up the Nacala rail-port complex. Therefore, in the period from January to mid-December 2024, the Port of Nacala recorded an overall output of 95.8%.
Regarding products, the Executive Director of CFM Norte revealed that the Port of Nacala handled a variety of goods in 2024, with an emphasis on sesame, sisal, cotton, beans, graphite, semi-precious stones, scrap metal and eucalyptus leaves to and from European countries, the Middle East, Asia and America.
In 2025, the Port of Nacala expects to handle 115,100 TEUs, corresponding to 1.8 million tonnes.
According to Abudo, the success of rail-port operations in Nacala was the result of several factors, with a highlight on the completion of the modernisation and expansion works of the container terminal, increased berthing capacity for ships with a quay 400 metres long and 14 metres deep, and the acquisition of two new and modern tugboats and a pilot boat for berthing ships.
In addition to these factors, the modernization and expansion of Nacala Port, which is economically classified as the “heart” of Nampula province, in northern Mozambique, has also opened up new markets in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and America.
“In addition to this geostrategic position, the port has a protected natural bay and, even more so, advantageous natural depths. The access channel is approximately 60 meters deep and 800 meters wide, which means that there are no limitations on receiving ships 24 hours a day,” the manager highlighted.
The Port of Nacala, which began operating in 1951, is crucial for the flow of exports as well as for the import of cereals, fertilizers, fuels, medicines and equipment of various kinds to meet the consumption needs of the countries in the region, particularly Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia.
