Mozambique Port of Beira

Port of Beira: Mozambique's Central Trade Hub

The Port of Beira, located in central Mozambique, serves as the country's second-largest port and a critical gateway for trade in Southern Africa. Situated in Sofala Province, it functions as a vital logistics hub for Mozambique's interior and landlocked neighboring countries, including Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This article examines the port's strategic location, key figures, and operational details, underscoring its role in driving regional economic growth.

Location

The Port of Beira is positioned in the city of Beira, the capital of Sofala Province, along the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean. It lies at the mouth of the Pungwe River, forming the Beira Estuary at approximately 19°50′S latitude and 34°51′E longitude. Located 9 nautical miles from the estuary's mouth and approximately 1,200 km north of Maputo, the port is accessible via the Macuti Channel—a 135-meter-wide dredged passage with a minimum depth of 8 meters below chart datum. The depths along its two piers vary from 8 to 12 meters.

Beira's strategic location makes it a key transshipment point for central Mozambique and landlocked nations, supported by extensive rail and road networks such as the Beira-Bulawayo (Machipanda) and Sena railway lines, the Trans-African Highway 9, and a fuel pipeline to Zimbabwe. The port also serves the provinces of Sofala, Manica, and Tete, facilitating exports of coal, lithium, and agricultural products. Although the port has a tidal nature that requires compulsory pilotage and tug assistance, it operates 24/7. Night navigation is permitted for vessels up to 140 meters in length and with a draft of 7 meters due to restrictions in the Macuti Channel's curvature.

Numbers and Relevant Details

Historical Context and Management

Established in 1890 by the Portuguese as a replacement for the Old Sofala port, Beira was developed by the Mozambique Company and later managed by the Portuguese colonial government until Mozambique's independence in 1975. Since 1998, the port has been operated by Cornelder de Moçambique (CdM), a joint venture between Mozambique Ports and Railways (CFM) and the Netherlands-based Cornelder Holding, under a public-private partnership (PPP) concession for container and general cargo terminals. The coal and oil terminals remain under CFM's control, with CFM overseeing port operations and infrastructure following the Mozambican government's administrative transition post-independence.

Infrastructure and Capacity

The Port of Beira features a robust infrastructure with 11 berths across 1,994 meters of quayside, excluding Berth 1, which is reserved for a fishing harbor. It comprises two piers with depths ranging from 8 to 12 meters. The container and multi-purpose terminal includes a 645-meter berth with a depth of 12 meters, serviced by two 36-meter gantry cranes. It has a current capacity of 100,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually, with ongoing expansions aimed at introducing Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGs) to boost capacity to 700,000 TEUs.

The general cargo terminal includes five warehouses covering 15,000 square meters and an additional 12,000 square meters of open paved storage, handling 2.3 million metric tons of cargo each year, including ferrochrome, steel, granite, and breakbulk materials. The Beira Grain Terminal, operational since 2010, has a storage capacity of 30,000 metric tons with unloading/loading rates of 4,000-5,000 tons per day, and plans are in place to double this capacity to 60,000 metric tons in its second phase.

The coal terminal, which receives exports from Tete Province via the 575-km Sena Railway, has a capacity of 6.5 million tons annually, with proposals to upgrade to 20 million tons, although some coal traffic has shifted to Nacala. The port can handle vessels up to 40,000 tons, with berth occupancy rates of 59% for containers and 80% for general cargo as of 2017, indicating no significant congestion during that time.

Cargo and Trade Performance

In 2019, the Port of Beira processed 2.1 million tons of cargo, experiencing a remarkable 46% growth in 2020, driven by exports of ores, tobacco, cotton, hides, and various food products, as well as imports of wheat, fertilizers, textiles, heavy equipment, and beverages. Its container handling facility is among the most advanced in Southern Africa, ranking highest in the region on the World Bank's 2023 Container Port Performance Index, outperforming ports like Durban and Cape Town based on ship waiting times. By 2024, seven vessels arrived within 24 hours, with seven additional vessels expected within the following 30 days, reflecting steady operational activity.

Economic and Regional Impact

The Port of Beira is vital to the Beira Corridor, a logistics network linking central Mozambique to Southern African markets. It supports trade for Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, and the DRC, underpinned by rail connections to Mutare (317 km) and Moatize, along with well-maintained road networks suitable for regional trucking. A 30-year concession agreement, signed in 2016 with Essar Ports, established the New Coal Terminal Beira (NCTB SA)—a joint venture with CFM designed to enhance coal handling facilities on a Design, Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (DBOOT) basis. Additionally, a $200 million contract awarded to Smit Lamnalco in 2022 reinforces marine services for the Coral FLNG terminal, situated 80 km offshore, strengthening Beira's role in LNG trade.

Despite these strengths, the port faced significant challenges from Cyclone Idai in March 2019, which devastated Beira and damaged 90% of the city, disrupting port operations. Recovery initiatives, including emergency dredging conducted by Van Oord in 2020, restored the navigability of the Macuti Channel. Investments in terminal equipment, such as tractors, reach stackers, and weighbridges, along with a new five-lane access road, have further enhanced operational efficiency.

Recent Developments

Cornelder de Moçambique's ongoing investments have modernized the port, including upgrades to storage yards and the handling of equipment. The port's collaboration with Mutare Dry Port in Zimbabwe enhances inland container and cargo operations. Plans to extend the Sena Railway to Malawi and Zambia aim to elevate Beira's regional trade potential. However, competition from Nacala, which has started handling some coal exports from Moatize, emphasizes the need for continued infrastructure enhancements to maintain Beira's competitive edge.

Conclusion

The Port of Beira is a cornerstone of Mozambique's economy and a vital trade hub for Southern Africa. Its strategic location, robust infrastructure, and ongoing modernization efforts position it as a key player in regional logistics. Despite challenges such as natural disasters and competitive pressures, Beira's high performance, evidenced by its top regional ranking, and its integral role in the Beira Corridor ensure its continued economic significance. As investments and regional connectivity grow, the Port of Beira is poised to strengthen Mozambique's position within global trade networks.