Page 29 - Logistics Update Africa March - April 2024 issue for Website

AfDB lends $40 mn to Mozambique Air freight

for Maputo rail corridor volumes through
Durban Dube
he African Development Bank access, reduced congestion, and
T(AfDB) approved a $40 million journey times, and potentially lowering TradePort
loan to Mozambique Rail and Port road fatalities. It aims to increase
Authority (CFM) for purchasing private sector freight usage, reduce terminal spike
rolling stock for the Ressano Garcia logistics costs, and enhance overall
railway line. An additional $30 competitiveness. The project forecasts
million will be mobilised from other significant economic outcomes,
lenders. The project entails acquiring including job creation, skills transfer,
10 locomotives, 300 wagons, and 120 and a boost in foreign earnings and tax
tank containers, along with a three- revenue. It will bolster intra-African
year maintenance program and staff trade, regional integration, and achieve
training. Expected benefits include substantial carbon savings of 744,511
improved household infrastructure kilotonnes of CO2 by 2035.

ir freight volumes through
ADube TradePort’s cargo
terminal at King Shaka
International Airport, Durban
increased 57 percent quarter-
on-quarter from September to
December 2023. Port challenges
continued to drive significant
demand towards airfreight in
January 2024. Volumes have risen
significantly over the past six
months as the effects of congestion
and slow-throughput capacity at
South Africa’s major ports ripples
KQ Cargo starts weekly freighter service across the supply chain. "From

between Sharjah and Mogadishu September through to December
2023, we saw fruit exports to
the Middle East and European
markets double in volume
compared with the same period
last year. On the automotive side,
in November, we saw volumes
approximately 30 percent higher
than normal being moved through
our airfreight cargo terminal."
said Ricardo Isaac, Senior
Manager, Cargo Development and
Operations, Dube Cargo Terminal.
enya Airways Cargo (KQ Cargo) has freight transportation, particularly high- He further added that the trend
Klaunched direct cargo flights from tech consumer goods, automotive parts, underscores the indispensability
Sharjah in UAE, to Mogadishu, Somalia, project cargo, and clothing, which are the of efficient air options especially
with weekly service. It is set to increase most frequently flown goods on the route. for time-sensitive commodities
to twice weekly in April 2024. The direct Partnering with Global GSA Cargo, KQ and situations with heightened
route between UAE and Somalia is Cargo utilises a B737-800F freighter for production stoppage risks.
expected to offer huge demand for air extended range and increased capacity.

MARCH - APRIL 2024 LUA 27