Exports of APM Terminals Apapa rise, 2nd exporters forum beckons

Exports of APM Terminals Apapa rise, 2nd exporters forum beckons

APM Terminals Apapa has said its half-year (H1’24) export figures for non-oil cargo stood at 51,000 Twenty Equivalent Units, TEUs, a rise of 7.8% Year-on-Year (YoY) when compared with 47,000 TEUs recorded in the corresponding year of 2023, H1 2023.

APM Terminals Apapa Terminal Manager, Steen Knudsen, described non-oil export cargo as an integral part of the terminal’s business.

He stated: “Over the last four years, we have witnessed a steady growth in non-oil export cargo. In 2020, export volumes stood at 53,000 TEUs. In 2021, it rose to 63,000 TEUs and in 2022, 71,000 TEUs. The greatest rise in exports was recorded in 2023, when volumes rose to 94,000 TEUs, an increase of 32%.”

To continue to drive this growth in non-oil exports, Knudsen added that the terminal would be hosting its second exporters’ forum this September.

He said, “The exporters’ forum is our way of supporting the Federal Government’s non-oil export drive. The forum is basically a brainstorming session where we rub minds with the various exporting associations in the country on how best to resolve their challenges to facilitate more efficient movement of exports into the ports.

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“More exports out of Nigeria translate to lower shipping costs since the vessels don’t go back empty. We will continue to partner with our customers and all relevant government agencies in the port to encourage Nigerian exporters in their business.”

Launched mid-2024, the APM Terminals Apapa exporters’ forum provides a safe place for the terminal, its export customers and shipping lines to discuss issues that impede the flow of export cargo into the port.

APM Terminals Apapa, Head of Commercial, Kayode Daniels, said: “The maiden forum launched in June was a huge success. We got so much feedback from the exporters on how we could collaborate to streamline our processes to improve export volumes. With agro-export produce, time is of the essence as prolonged storage in containers could ruin the quality of the cargo before it gets to its destination.

“The feedback we receive in the forum will be used to improve our operations and other associated processes concerned with the export of non-oil exports. I believe we can all work together to further strengthen the port’s export process.”

Exports of APM Terminals Apapa rise, 2nd exporters forum beckons