Chamwe Kaira
Logistics company Grindrod Limited handled 16 604 tonnes of bulk cargo at Walvis Bay in the first half of 2025, down from 134 443 tonnes in the same period last year.
The company operates a bulk and break-bulk terminal facility at the port.
In the second half of 2024, Grindrod handled 109 890 tonnes at Walvis Bay, bringing the total for that year to 244 333 tonnes.
In 2023, the company moved 305 336 tonnes at the same terminal.
Chief executive officer Xolani Mbambo said in the 2025 interim results that performance rebounded strongly in the second quarter, particularly in the ports and terminals segment, after a slow start to the year.
“Strategy execution remained on track with key transactions successfully closed on investments in our core business and non-core exit. Due to the group’s strong position, Grindrod is distributing total cash of N\$386 million by way of a dividend to its shareholders,” Mbambo said.
He noted that mining commodity markets weakened compared to the first half of 2024, with sluggish prices for iron ore, lithium, graphite, and coal.
The continuing slowdown on global growth, trade tensions due to the US position on tariffs,and policy uncertainty added downward pressure on the mining commodities,” he said.
At the port of Maputo, the dry-bulk terminal achieved export volumes of 6.5 million tonnes for the period. Terminals overall handled 7.9 million tonnes.
The monthly volume run-rate across all dry bulk terminals was 2.5 million tonnes in the second quarter, up 13% from the first quarter, reflecting recovery at the Matola terminal.
Mbambo said Grindrod recorded a strong start to the second half of 2025 in the ports and terminals segment despite difficult trading conditions.
The Maputo Port Development Company reached a record 1.5 million tonnes in July, while the Matola terminal maintained close to 1 million tonnes after completing a maintenance shutdown in June.
Grindrod Terminals’ headline earnings were 43% higher year-to-date compared to the same period in 2024.
Mbambo added that the container business is showing signs of a turnaround, but logistics, particularly rail, remains weak due to low utilisation as the locomotive overhaul programme continues.
