Newsroom
Search:
News Article - General
Motor import, export demand to see PE harbour in action
Posted on: Monday, 26 June 2006. Article source: The Herald
THE Port Elizabeth harbour will strengthen its position as an automotive gateway into the country with new vehicle import and export contracts coming into effect this year.
The National Ports Authority said yesterday that the very first shipment of Nissan cars was expected to arrive at the harbour on July 1.
Renault will import 3 000 units during the year and by October the first newly built Hummer H3‘s are expected to be exported by General Motors SA.
The Hummer manufacturing contract will see GMSA export an initial volume of 10 000 vehicles per year between 2006 and 2012.
Currently only Volkswagen SA is exporting vehicles from the harbour, with more than 40 000 vehicles exported last year.
SA Port Operations recorded a 46% growth in vehicle volumes at the harbour last year, boosting total vehicles handled to 37 015 compared to 2004‘s 25 373 units. To deal with this increase the harbour authorities have begun a R16-million project to increase the number of car parking bays at the terminal as well as its washing and de-waxing capacity.
NPA spokesman Dineo Manyoni said the fruit, fishing and automotive industries were showing the strongest growth.
These industries, in conjunction with some container handling, would remain the harbour‘s foundation after the manganese ore dump and fuel tanks are moved to the Port of Ngqura.
Port manager Ester Goosen said the removal of the tank farm could help decrease the contamination of vehicles. “Countries like Japan have strict import requirements. Cars should be clean and if one has even a little scratch it could be rejected.”
Goosen said Transnet Capital Projects was still completing a feasibility study into moving the tank farm and ore dump to Ngqura and expected a decision by the end of this year.
Another new product that will be exported through the harbour over the next 12 months is timber.
Currently container handling constitutes 75% of the harbour‘s activities, followed by vehicles at 12%, bulk at 4%, petroleum at 3% and breakbulk at 1%.
Manyoni said the NPA projected a total of 80 400 units to be handled by the port this year.
In January the NPA put out to tender seven plots and four vacant buildings to potential lessees. Goosen said some tenders had been awarded, mostly to the fishing industry. Bunker facilities for the fishing industry would also be expanded.
The National Ports Authority said yesterday that the very first shipment of Nissan cars was expected to arrive at the harbour on July 1.
Renault will import 3 000 units during the year and by October the first newly built Hummer H3‘s are expected to be exported by General Motors SA.
The Hummer manufacturing contract will see GMSA export an initial volume of 10 000 vehicles per year between 2006 and 2012.
Currently only Volkswagen SA is exporting vehicles from the harbour, with more than 40 000 vehicles exported last year.
SA Port Operations recorded a 46% growth in vehicle volumes at the harbour last year, boosting total vehicles handled to 37 015 compared to 2004‘s 25 373 units. To deal with this increase the harbour authorities have begun a R16-million project to increase the number of car parking bays at the terminal as well as its washing and de-waxing capacity.
NPA spokesman Dineo Manyoni said the fruit, fishing and automotive industries were showing the strongest growth.
These industries, in conjunction with some container handling, would remain the harbour‘s foundation after the manganese ore dump and fuel tanks are moved to the Port of Ngqura.
Port manager Ester Goosen said the removal of the tank farm could help decrease the contamination of vehicles. “Countries like Japan have strict import requirements. Cars should be clean and if one has even a little scratch it could be rejected.”
Goosen said Transnet Capital Projects was still completing a feasibility study into moving the tank farm and ore dump to Ngqura and expected a decision by the end of this year.
Another new product that will be exported through the harbour over the next 12 months is timber.
Currently container handling constitutes 75% of the harbour‘s activities, followed by vehicles at 12%, bulk at 4%, petroleum at 3% and breakbulk at 1%.
Manyoni said the NPA projected a total of 80 400 units to be handled by the port this year.
In January the NPA put out to tender seven plots and four vacant buildings to potential lessees. Goosen said some tenders had been awarded, mostly to the fishing industry. Bunker facilities for the fishing industry would also be expanded.
Article Tags: No tags defined
Podcast
ECDC Xhosa Radio Ad
