Due to its strategic position, its nautical and infrastructural assets, the Port of Kribi has remained an essential driver of economic development for the country, despite the impact of the Covid-19 health crisis.
2020 was marked by the arrival of the 1000th commercial vessel in Mboro. This 1000th call took place in the backdrop of the resumption of the CMA-CGM’s ASAF service line operating between Asia and the West African coast. Kribi is now the hub port in Central Africa on this line, which allows the Port to be directly connected to three Chinese Special Economic Zones: Shanghai, Ningbo and Qingdao. Looking at the first two quarters, results were mixed but this was made up in the last two quarters where operations recorded peaks well above forecasts, especially in the September-October period. For instance, the container terminal revealed that September 2020 marked its best performance since the start of commercial operations on 20 March 2018, with 27,019 TEUs [Twenty-foot equivalent unit].
The South II Customs Sector, which mainly covers the Port of Kribi, crossed the CFAF 8 million at the end of September 2020. A record that adds the total customs revenue of CFAF 76,8 billion generated since the beginning of 2020. As compared to the revenue generated last year, there is a rise as this topped at CFAF 11,5 billion. An outstanding increase of customs revenue in PAK which is explained in the opening of new maritime lines which consequently led to an increase in traffic.
By activating its Port Information System (SIP) in 2020, PAK reaffirmed its choice to go digital. The electronic platform speeds up the automated management of operations in the Port of Kribi while ensuring high performance in terms of availability, safety, flow, reliability of port operations and security of customs revenue. This is done through interfaces with other third-party applications among which Camcis of the Customs administration, OSCAR of KCT, eGUCE and Scanner of Transatlantic.
The acceleration of the development of the logistics and industrial zone, its connection to the drinking water network and the continuation of the Phase 2 construction work are some of the points that will receive increased attention in 2021. The works will consist in extending the quay line by a further 700 metres, extending the quay wall by 715 metres, extending the protective breakwater by 675 metres, and developing the port roadway covering a total area of approximately 37 hectares.
