The port of Walvis Bay has facilitated the export of 8500 metric tonnes of copper cathodes loaded onto Unisea vessel destined for the Port of Panama.
The shipment is the second consignment of copper to be shipped via the port of Walvis Bay in a breakbulk format, as an alternative to containerized export.
The copper cathodes are from the Mopani Copper mine in Zambia and were transported to Walvis Bay via road and loaded onto the Unisea vessel.
“Due to the ongoing global shortage in containers, it has become a phenomenon for shippers to opt for their consignments to be carried by bulk vessels to ensure continuity of operations and less dependency on containers,” Namport’s Executive: Commercial Services, Elias Mwenyo said.
“With Namibia’s ports being strategically located along the West Coast of Africa and supplemented by the country’s excellent road infrastructure which is rated number one in Africa, the country continues to play a leading role in the facilitation of trade via our transport corridors serving hinterland markets within SADC.”
Namibia has four transport corridors that connects it to other SADC countries namely; Trans Kunene connecting Namibia to Angola, the Walvis Bay Ndola Lubumbashi Development Corridor connecting to Zambia and southern Democratic Republic of Congo, Trans Kalahari Corridor connecting Namibia to Botswana and lastly the Trans Oranje corridor responsible for connecting Namibia to the Republic of South Africa.