Maputo port access boosted by logistics
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Maputo port access boosted by logistics
Access to the Port of Maputo will become easier for South African exporters over the next few months.
By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and Endorphin Expeditions.
Bottlenecks at border posts between South Africa and Mozambique is slowly disappearing.
Long queues of trucks waiting to cross the Ressano Garcia Border Post, about 100km east of Mbombela on the N4 Maputo Corridor, might be something of the past.
Ressano Garcia is the most strategic border crossing between South Africa and Mozambique and links the Gauteng Province in South Africa with the Port of Maputo in Mozambique.
Digital one-stop border post
Last week, South Africa’s Department of Transport announced that South Africa and Mozambique are rolling out a fully digital one-stop border post at Ressano Garcia.
The project aims to integrate immigration, customs and cargo processing into a single system accessible through one digital platform.
This will make it possible for South Africa trucks heading east to arrive at Maputo within one day.
South African exports that move through Maputo include coal, chrome, magnetite, as well as manufactured goods, vehicles, machinery, fertiliser and agricultural produce.
Improved systems decrease formalities
Historically, the border was plagued by congestion, inefficiencies and long delays, with trucks sometimes waiting up to three days to cross.
With improved systems in place at the border post today, it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to process and clear all formalities.
Maputo central to SA exports
The port city of Maputo (historically known as Lourenço Marques) has been a critical export gateway for South African exports for more than a century, dating back to the late 1800s when the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand created an urgent need for a reliable export route to the sea.
The completion of the railway line between Johannesburg and Maputo in 1895 established the port as a strategic outlet for minerals and goods from the South African interior.
Throughout the 20th century, the port remained vital to regional trade, although volumes declined during Mozambique’s civil war from 1977 to 1992.
Since the early 2000s, major investments have revived the port’s role as a key export corridor.
Public Private partnership invests in development
Operations at the port are managed by the Maputo Port Development Company, a public-private partnership that has invested heavily in dredging, terminal upgrades and capacity expansion over the past two decades.
These investments have significantly increased handling capacity and improved turnaround times, making the port more competitive with larger regional ports.
Image; The port of Maputo. Image credit: Wikimedia
Maputo port access boosted by logistics