MOZAMBIQUE – The Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) and Maputo Grain Terminal SA (MGT), in partnership with MEREC Industries, have announced a US$5 million project to expand the port’s grain terminal, responding to rising grain handling volumes in recent years.
The project, announced on September 13, 2024, includes the construction of four additional silos and improvements in rail infrastructure to boost efficiency.
This expansion will increase the terminal’s static capacity from 25,000 tonnes to 45,000 tonnes, raising the annual grain handling capacity from 170,000 tonnes to 350,000 tonnes.
This strategic move aims to strengthen the port’s logistics capacity and enhance its competitiveness in both regional and international markets.
The current terminal, comprising five silos with a capacity of 5,000 tonnes each, has been struggling to keep up with growing demand. In 2023 alone, the terminal handled 166,000 tonnes of grain, reflecting the increasing need for expanded storage and handling capabilities.
The expansion will not only serve existing grain producers but will also explore new export opportunities for neighboring countries and international markets.
Construction of the new silos is expected to take 18 months, reinforcing the long-term growth vision of MPDC and its partners. This move follows the concession extension agreement signed earlier in 2024, which underscores the company’s commitment to becoming a central hub for grain transit in southern Africa.
The investment comes after the Ambassador of Mozambique to China, Maria Gustava, and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Hejun, signed a pivotal agreement in Beijing that allows the export of three Mozambican agricultural products, particularly cashew nuts, macadamia nuts, and pigeon peas, to China without customs duties.
The agreement, valid for three years and renewable, is expected to strengthen commercial cooperation between the two countries.
Mozambican officials highlighted that this initiative is part of broader efforts to expand the country’s economic growth by gaining greater access to the Chinese market, one of the world’s largest consumers of agricultural products.
This development is part of a broader trend in the region, with other ports like Beira also enhancing their capacity to handle growing agricultural exports. The planned improvements will help address bottlenecks and improve the overall efficiency of the region’s grain supply chain.
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