|
AFRICAN
container port investment continues to be
a growth area in contrast to a mature US
and Western European markets, due to rising
demand for finished goods and comparatively
low levels of containerisation, says latest
report from Drewry Maritime Research.
North
Africa container traffic 13 per cent with
an 11 per cent overall growth in the continent's
ports. North Africa was able to cash in
on its geographical location between Asia
and Europe. In total its container handling
capacity was up to an estimated 37 million
TEU during 2012.
Global
and international container terminal operators
(GTOs and ITOs) control much of the continent's
container traffic at 17 per cent in 2007
to almost double by 2013 to 31 per cent.
Five years ago, APM Terminals cornered much
of the cargo handled along with Cosco Group,
DP World, HPH and ICTSI. New entrants to
the market include CMA CGM/Terminal Link,
MSC/TIL and Eurogate.
Privatisation
and greenfield projects will make up the
majority of future investments despite the
fragile political and economic climate of
Africa, said the Drewry report.
APM
Terminals continue to dominant the market
in West Africa at 11 terminals, and a recent
concession agreement with Bollore and Bouygues
for Abidjan's second terminal built to handle
8,000-TEU vessels at an investment cost
of US$590 million.
Outside
of western and northern Africa, the potential
for growth is still high particularly in
eastern and southern parts of the continent.
Dubai
port operator DP World has doubled its presence
in Africa with recent acquisitions in Senegal
and Djibouti increasing its traffic throughput
by equity to 5.4 per cent last year from
1.8 per cent in 2007.
In
2010, DP World also signed a 35-year concession
agreement with the Red Sea Port Authority
to develop and operate the new terminal
in El Sokhna, which, at full capacity, will
be able to handle 1.75 million TEU annually.
It has signed a 100 per cent concession
to build a new 1.75 million TEU terminal
at Dakar by 2016.
CMA
CGM/Terminal Link continues to hold a strong
presence at three terminals in Morocco and
the Ivory Coast. It signed a 65-year concession
agreement with the Sao Tomean government
in August 2008 for a large greenfield terminal
on the island (off the coast of Gabon) with
an operational date yet to be set.
South
Africa's Transnet remains a local player
in regional terms within South Africa only
but still handled an impressive four million
TEU in 2012.
|
