The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has expressed dissatisfaction with a new global report that ranks the Port of Walvis Bay near the bottom of the list.
The 2024 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), recently released by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, ranks Walvis Bay 376th out of 405 ports around the world.
This is a significant drop from its previous rankings. In 2022, Walvis Bay was in 293rd place.
In 2023, it fell further to 382nd.
Namport said the ranking does not reflect the true work and improvements being done at the port.
They believe the report does not fully reflect local challenges and progress made in recent years.
The Port of Walvis Bay is Namibia’s main port.
It plays a very important role in the country’s economy.
It handles goods like food, fuel and building materials.
The port also connects Namibia to other countries in Southern Africa, such as Botswana, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“During the reporting period, the Red Sea crisis and geopolitical instability resulted in the rerouting of several global shipping lines around the Cape of Good Hope. This led to a significant increase in vessel traffic, including very large container and other cargo vessels that would traditionally not sail along the Atlantic coast of Africa, were diverted to call at the Port of Walvis Bay,” Namport stated.
Namport said this sudden influx placed additional operational demands on available marine resources, particularly tug and pilotage services, as Namport prioritised the safe and efficient handling of all vessels within port limits including the larger ships that required extended manoeuvring time within the port basin.
“It is worth emphasising that most ports in Southern Africa experienced similar challenges and recorded lower performance rankings in the 2024 CPPI. In comparison, Namibia’s ports showed a relative improvement over previous years, reflecting steady progress in operational capability and service delivery despite the global headwinds,” Namport said.
Namport remains confident that the ongoing investments in port infrastructure and operational efficiency will continue to enhance the Port of Walvis Bay’s competitiveness.
Namport is currently compiling a comprehensive internal report to analyse the 2024 CPPI findings in detail and to identify specific operational areas for further improvement.
The Authority remains fully committed to continuous improvement, service excellence and positioning Namibia as the logistics hub for Southern Africa.
“We view the CPPI as a valuable benchmarking tool that helps us refine our processes and identify opportunities for greater efficiency. With our ongoing investments in infrastructure, equipment and technology, we are confident that the future CPPI results will reflect the positive outcomes of our transformation efforts,” they said.