Home Southern Africa Namport Achieves Record Container Throughput Despite Fewer Vessel Calls

Namport Achieves Record Container Throughput Despite Fewer Vessel Calls

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The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) reported a record-breaking 253,996 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled in the financial year ending 31 March 2025 — a 33% increase compared to the previous year, adding 82,845 containers to its throughput.

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The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) reported a record-breaking 253,996 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled in the financial year ending 31 March 2025 — a 33% increase compared to the previous year, adding 82,845 containers to its throughput. This milestone comes despite a 13% decline in vessel calls, largely offset by the arrival of larger ships carrying more cargo, particularly at the Port of Walvis Bay.

Namport’s Commercial Executive, Elias Mwenyo, credited the performance to the authority’s operational resilience, infrastructure investments, and strategic partnerships with carriers and cargo owners.“This achievement reflects more than a rise in trade — it highlights our agility and long-term vision,” Mwenyo stated.

Across both the Walvis Bay and Lüderitz ports, total cargo throughput increased by 4.8% to 8.42 million tonnes, with solid growth in bulk, breakbulk, liquid, and containerised cargo.

Key Highlights:

  • Mining Sector Drives Exports: Increased shipments of copper, zinc, and uranium boosted the mining segment.
  • Imports Up by 7.1%: Fertiliser, sulphur, petroleum products, wheat, and machinery led the rise.
  • Break-Bulk Surges by 12.8%, driving the bulk of cargo growth.
  • Walvis Bay’s First-Time Exports: Critical minerals like nickel and zinc concentrates debuted, reinforcing Namibia’s place in the global supply chain.
  • Lüderitz Sees 21.7% Cargo Growth, driven by petroleum, machinery, and empty container imports.
  • Cruise Tourism Rebounds: International arrivals, including MSC Musica, supported local tourism recovery.

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Despite a drop in overall exports at both ports, gains in salt, timber, marble, frozen fish, and other niche commodities cushioned the impact.

Mwenyo noted that Walvis Bay and Lüderitz are evolving into strategic regional trade gateways, playing a key role in supplying essential industrial inputs to Namibia and its neighbours. Namport’s performance, he said, underscores the value of strong collaboration across the supply chain — including partners like the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, government agencies, and port users.