ENL Consortium loses 12% cargo volume to inconsistent import policies

ENL Consortium Limited, an indigenous port operator in charge of Terminals C and D of the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) Apapa, said it was unable to achieve its proposed 4.5 million metric tons cargo volume in 2012.

The terminal, which handles mainly bulk cargoes including cement, wheat, flour, fish, iron rods and several others, projected a cargo volume of 4.5 million metric tons in 2012, but was only able to handle 4 million.

Reviewing the business activities at the terminal in 2012, Mark Walsh, general manager, ENL Consortium, said in Lagos that despite that a total of 245 ships called at the firm’s terminal between January and December 2012, the terminal recorded a shortfall of 12 percent in its proposed cargo volume.

“Last year was slow with a lot of turmoil. Government changed policies and these include the ban on importation of bulk cement. Government also increased the duty paid on imported rice to 50 percent and this affected our tonnage,” he said.

He also blamed other external factors such as congestion on the access roads leading into the terminal, which he said also affected the turnaround of ships, and the general downturn in the world economy for the downturn in cargo volume last year.

Forecasting on the face of business activities in 2013, he said this year may not be different from last year as decrease in cargo tonnage and throughput is anticipated due to the 100 percent increase in import duty on rice.

“We expect another 15 percent decrease in volume this year. Therefore, our tonnage should be between 3.4 to 3.5 million metric tons,” Walsh said.

He assured, however, that despite the downturn in business at the terminal, the terminal would continue to improve on its efficiency, given that increased efficiency at ENL terminals was a direct outcome of investments in equipment, technology, manpower and infrastructures made by the company.