The Composite Index of Beverages, consisting of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, recorded 95 basis points in September 2020, up by 19.5% and lower by 33% when compared to August 2020 and September 2019, respectively.
According to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) monthly sectoral report, the total beverages production for September 2020 was 247 593 hectolitres compared to 207 137 hectolitres produced in August 2020 and 369 600 hectolitres in the corresponding month of 2019.
“The year-on-year decline is associated with Covid-19 regulations that are not yet fully lifted, resulting in low demand for both alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages,” reads the report.
The Alcoholic Beverages Index recorded 98.9 basis points in September 2020, up by 38.5% when compared to August 2020 and down by 30.4% when compared to September 2019. The Non-alcoholic Beverages Index registered 87.8 basis points during the period under review down by 6.9% and 37.9% when compared to August 2020 and September 2019, respectively.
Furthermore, in analysis of the transport sector, the Composite Cargo Index that consists of rail, road, air and sea cargo for September 2020 stood at 140.9 basis points up by 22.6% and 38.1% from the preceding month and September 2019, respectively.
The Rail Cargo Index recorded 134.3 basis points in September 2020 compared to 90.6 basis points in August 2020 up by 48.2% and 19.6% recorded from the preceding month and September 2019. The Road Cargo Index recorded 104.2 basis points in September 2020 up by 3.4% and down by 12.5% from the preceding month and September 2019.
The report further stated that the Air Cargo Index stood at 43.9 basis points in September 2020 compared to 37.6 basis points in August 2020 up by 16.8% and down by 62% from the preceding month and September 2019, respectively.
“The Sea-Cargo Index that consists of sea-landed, sea-shipped and sea trans-shipped stood at 164.6 basis points in September 2020 compared to 130.0 basis points recorded in August 2020 up by 26.6% and 84.8% from August 2020 and September 2019, respectively,” reads the report.
The Sea-landed Index recorded 132.6 basis points in September 2020 compared to 113.0 basis points in August 2020, up by 17.3% and 34.5% from the preceding month and September 2019, respectively. The Sea-shipped Index registered 368.6 basis points in September 2020 compared to 230.6 basis points in August 2020, an increase of 59.8% and 208.0% from August 2020 and the corresponding month of 2019, respectively.
The Sea Trans-Shipped Index for September 2020 stood at a mere 5.8 basis points compared to 56.9 basis points recorded in August 2020, down by 89.8% and up by 56.8% from August 2020 and September 2019, respectively.
The decline of 89.8% month on month was due to eased restrictions of Covid-19 that resulting in South African sea transshipments ceasing usage of Namport services.
“The total volume of cargo transported by sea in September 2020 amounted to 782 548 tons compared to 618 129 tons recorded in the preceding month. The total volume of cargo transported by sea for September 2019 stood at 423 544 tons,” stated the report.
-mndjavera@nepc.com.na
During September 2020, Namibia transported 1 249 640 tons of cargo through Rail, Road, Air, and Sea up by 230 180 tons and 344 658 tons that were transported for August 2020 and the corresponding month of 2019, respectively.
-mndjavera@nepc.com.na
Photo: Beverages
Caption: Improved figures…Total beverages production for September 2020 increased to 247 593 hectolitres from 207 137 hectolitres produced in August 2020.
Photo: Contributed