Import volume in Nigerian seaports grosses 71mmt in six months

The total gross registered tonnage (GRT) of the vessels that visited Nigerian seaports in the first half of 2014 was 70,659,820 million metric tons (mmt), indicating an increase of 17.57 percent over the 60,096,179 million metric tons GRT of imports that was recorded the same period in 2013, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) report has revealed.

According to the report, a total of 2,719 oceangoing vessels called at all Nigerian ports showing an increase of 12 percent over the 2013 figure of 2,427 vessels.

A breakdown of the statistics reveals that Lagos Port Complex (LPC) recorded a gross registered tonnage of 17,367,180 showing an increase of 7.2 percent over 16,189,825 gross tons achieved in 2013 while a total of 727 vessels were handled in the period under review.

Tin-Can Island Port recorded a gross registered tonnage of 23,493,612, indicating an increase of 0.1 percent over the 19,666,634 gross tons recorded in 2013. A total number of 892 oceangoing vessels were handled within the period.

Rivers Port Complex recorded a total gross registered tonnage of 3,676,757, showing 7.6 percent growth over 3,418,309 gross tons handled within the same period in 2013, while a total of 228 oceangoing vessels were handled within the period under review.

Also, Onne Port Complex recorded a total GRT of 19,769,896 reflecting an increase of 12.4 percent over the 17,586,716 gross tons recorded the same period of 2013 with 425 vessels handled within the period.

Calabar Port Complex recorded a total GRT of 2,011,358 showing a rise of 50.3 percent over 1,337,475 gross tons of 2013, with 137 oceangoing vessels handled in the period under review.