Massive export volumes have seen East London Port experience a record-breaking all-time high in December 2018 which is attributed to the city's car giant, Mercedes-Benz South Africa.
East London port manager Sharon Sijako said the success was due to the strong value- chain partnership they developed and nurtured with the car manufacturer after a few years.
“We are delighted to be part of this success story where the Eastern Cape’s automotive volumes moved indicate that our region is leading the pack within this fiercely competitive industry,” she said.
“This remarkable milestone not only bodes well for the economy of the region and the country but also for the partnership between MBSA, Transnet Port Terminals [TPT] and Transnet National Ports Authority [TNPA],” she said.
National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) said SA saw a record-breaking 56% leap in vehicles exported in December 2018 compared to the previous year.
This represents a total of 31,437 vehicles that left SA, compared to 20,107 exported in December 2017.
Business Insider reported recently that Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) were the most in demand as 9,276 units were exported.
MBSA spokesperson Thato Mntambo said the company relied heavily on exports, with only 10% of vehicles sold locally.
“Mercedes-Benz South Africa has a long and rich history in East London and we remain committed to running a sustainable business and continued future investment from our East London plant, premised on policy certainty, a stable labour and socio-political operating environment, as well as effective and collaborative multi-stakeholder engagement,” Mntambo said.
“With more than 90% of our volumes destined for the export market, Mercedes-Benz South Africa is always looking at ways to grow our business and surpass our past accomplishments to remain competitive by increasing our penetration and delivering on customers’ expectations.”
Mntambo said they could not give any further detail about their export markets for competitive reasons.
Acting executive manager: Containers & Automotive Cape Channel at TPT Wandisa Vazi said they were pleased to see a successful collaboration among manufacturers, shipping lines and port terminals, achieving increased volumes with quick turnaround times.
“We are thrilled in being a key enabler of the automotive sector, an industry that makes up about 7% of South Africa’s gross domestic product [GDP] and accounts for almost 12% of the country’s manufacturing exports.
“By being custodians of exporting such goods, we contribute immensely in the sustenance of jobs and in turning the tide against the current economic slump,” she said.
Vazi added that TPT valued its close working relationships with key stakeholders such as MBSA who were crucial across the various sectors and contribute to the growth of the nation’s economy.
“This achievement helps to not only instill further confidence in TPT’s clients but it illustrates our ability to take on increased volumes through operational efficiencies and it also speaks volumes about SA’s ability to deliver on an international platform,” she said...