MORE than 7,5 million tons of cargo was handled at the Port of Richards Bay in August, an increase from the 6.8 million tonnage recorded in July.
With a total of 18 million tons recorded in all the country’s ports last month, Richards Bay handled the largest tonnage, according to the latest statistics released by the Transnet National Ports Authority.
Of the total cargo handled, 84 625 tons was break bulk, 150 488 tons of liquid bulk and 7,3 million was dry bulk.
The Port of Richards Bay has the largest dry bulk terminal in the country and handles approximately 54% of the total dry bulk cargo demand.
It currently has seven dry bulk berths.
Plans are in place to increase the berth capacity from 21 million tons to 40.4 million tons by the provision of two additional berths and the conversion of another from an import berth to an export one.
With 690 containers handled last month, 447 were shipped and 243 arrived at the port.
The port also handled 26 tankers: 12 being for chemicals, six for oil and eight for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Of the 142 vessel arrivals with a gross tonnage of 5 643 610, one was a passenger vessel, 11 were for general cargo and 102 for bulk.
