Sea port trade rises marginally

Total maritime trade in the first half of the year jumped three percent over a year ago to 11 million tonnes, according to Ghana Shippers’ Authority figures obtained by the B&FT.

Import trade increased by 9 percent during the period, while export trade declined by 12 percent, with transit trade also falling by 11 percent.

In the second quarter, over 5.75 million tonnes of cargo came through the country’s ports, 79 percent of which was made up of imports. The export volume was 21 percent, or over 1.18 million tonnes.

The sea port of Tema recorded over 4.39 million tonnes of cargo in the second quarter, representing 76 percent of the total, while Takoradi Port handled 1.35 million tonnes.

On the import side, regarding the type of trade, total liner trade amounted to over 1.71 million tonnes in the second quarter, while the total break-bulk trade was 851,204 tonnes.

Major import items in the liner trade included processed food and beverages, machinery and equipment, polythene raw materials, chemicals and tiles.

Major liner export items included cashew nuts, which contributed 114,829 tonnes, and cocoa beans with 113,326 tonnes. Cocoa products contributed 49,222 tonnes, sawn timber 34,145 tonnes, and metal scrap 17,824 tonnes.

Over 56 percent of the export trade, amounting to 660,317 tonnes, was shipped to the Far East.  The Mediterranean Europe and North America accounted for 38,309 tonnes and 29,786 tonnes, or 3 percent and 2 percent respectively. Africa accounted for 2 percent of the total export trade.

For the review period, a majority of imports into the country came from the Far East. This was 37 percent of total imports for the review period.

Africa contributed 19 percent, amounting to 889,447 tonnes. Major countries whose transit trade passed through the sea ports of Ghana included Burkina Faso, which recorded the highest share of the total transit trade amounting to 228,884 tonnes -- equivalent to 68 percent. This was followed by Niger with 37,766 tonnes, or 11 percent of the total.