The cargo handled at the port of Maputo in 2015 – 15.6 million tons – represented a contraction of 19.17 percent compared to 19.3 million tons processed in 2014, said Tuesday in Maputo the port’s management company.

The Maputo Port Development Corporation (MPDC) explained the slump with the difficult conditions experienced in international markets, following a sharp decline in commodity prices compared to previous years.

The largest declines in tonnage were seen in loading of coal and magnetite, as well as in the car terminal and sugar, the MPDC said in a statement.

The MPDC gave assurances it would continue with investments planned for 2016 as part of the master plan set out for the port of Maputo, despite the downturn in international markets, and the main project is to increase the depth of the port’s access channel to 14.2 metres.

The MPDC is a private company, which is a partnership between state port and rail management company CFM, South African group Grindrod, DP World of Dubai and Mozambique Gestores. (macauhub/MZ)