In a major show of confidence in DP World Maputo, South African-based global paper and dissolving wood pulp (DWP) manufacturer Sappi has chosen to ship some of its products through the DP World container terminal in the Port of Maputo.
Under an agreement signed with DP World Maputo, Sappi Southern Africa will route all dissolving wood pulp exports originating at its Ngodwana Mill in Mpumalanga, South Africa through the DP World Maputo facility (a dedicated berth and a terminal area of 13 hectares).
Containers will be transported to and from the port over a distance of 250 kilometres via rail through to Ressano Garcia, the border between South Africa and Mozambique, where CFM (Mozambique Ports and Railways), joint venture partner of DP World, will be responsible for bringing the containers the rest of the way to DP World Maputo.
Junaid Zamir, CEO, DP World Maputo said: “We are delighted that Sappi has chosen DP World Maputo to handle its Ngodwana Mill product. Their decision demonstrates confidence in the value that DP World Maputo offers in terms of service excellence at a competitive price. We are experienced in handling Sappi product having served them when they manufactured in Swaziland until the plant there closed in 2009. We see this new business as recognition of the quality of our work for them in the past and the quality of our offering today.”
Linking the port with the highly industrialised and productive regions of Southern Africa is the Maputo Development Corridor with its integrated network of road, rail, border posts, connecting with the modern DP World Maputo port terminal facilities.
Osório Lucas, Chief Executive Officer, Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC), said: “The success of the Maputo Development Corridor is not only dependent on the DP World Maputo container terminal performance, but also on the equally important services offered by shipping lines and the reliability of rail services from Sappi’s plant at Ngodwana. I am excited that Sappi has again shown its confidence in DP World, Maputo and the Maputo Development Corridor.”
Further DP World Maputo development plans include refurbishing the yard to operate rubber tyred gantry (RTG) cranes and a railhead to operate 50 wagon racks. DP World holds a 30-year concession to operate the container terminal at the port until 2033, with an option to extend for a further 10 years.
Located on Africa’s south eastern coast, DP World Maputo plays a major role in linking regional production, mining and commercial hubs to the markets of South East Asia. The port, which is mostly focused on origin and destination cargo, serves as the main shipping terminus for land-locked regions of Southern Africa such as Gauteng Province, Swaziland, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi.
