Djibouti Port records highest traffic volume ever

Nearly 6 million tons

By Groum Abate
 

Djibouti Port recorded its highest traffic volume of dry cargo and oil products in 2003. The traffic increased by almost 1.5 million tones reaching almost 6 million tones [5,967,461.47 tons] when compared to the 4.5 million tones of traffic that passed through the port in 2002.This reflects the goods transported to and from Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somalia including the transshipments. The most important part of this traffic is made up of imported goods. The traffic report of the port indicates that a little more than 4.9 million tones of dry cargo and oil products was imported by the three countries in 2003 showing a 38% growth from the 3.5 million tones import in 2002.
This increase is not only explained by the high level of food-aid that was imported, but also by the flow of imported commercial goods as well. Import of oil products alone has also shown an increase of about 10%.
Overall the export from the three countries has increased by 13%, [rising from 854,583 tons in 2002 to 966,237 tones in 2003] with Djibouti recording a remarkable increase of 1151% reaching over 4.1 million tons in 2003 when compared to the 2002 export of 333.62 tones. This could be partly due to its livestock exports, said Mr. Aboubaker Omar Hadi, Commercial Manager of the Port of Djibouti.
Ethiopia’s export however has declined by 11% from 380,175 tones in 2002 to 338,889 tones in 2003, the reason mostly due to a decline in its sugar export.
The Port’s supply in water and bunkering to the vessels has however declined by 27% when compared to the year 2002 where there were more navy ships from the USA, Germany…etc.
In related news, the Port of Djibouti is taking part in the 8th Addis Chamber International Trade Fair, this year with a special focus on the free zone that is under construction in Djibouti.
In terms of providing businesses in Africa with a platform from which they can tap in to the potential of the African market, supported by its partnership with Jebel Ali Free Zone International, the 17-hectare Djibouti Free Zone (DFZ) located next to the Ethiopian highway is the first of its kind in Africa, said Mr. Abdourahman Elmi Ismael, Djibouti Port Representative in Ethiopia.
Mr. Aboubaker Omar Hadi is in Addis to explain the advantages of the DFZ to different sectors of the Ethiopian businesses and authorities that use the port of Djibouti. Mr. Aboubaker and Mr. Abdourahman met with freighters and transitors on Friday and discussed areas of cooperation for a mutual benefit.
They are planning to meet coffee exporters, industrialists and livestock exporters starting from tomorrow, Monday 23rd.
Their other meetings during the week also include senior officials from Ethiopian Shipping Lines, Maritime and Transit Services Enterprise, Ethiopian Petroleum Enterprise, Ethiopian Customs Authority, and Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce.