The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said a total of 86,603,903 metric tonnes of cargoes were moved through the ports in 2014.
A statement by the Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs of NPA, Musa Iliya, said the volume recorded was 12.64 per cent higher than the 2013 figure of 76,886,997 metric tonnes.
Topping the list with 21,679,330 metric tonnes were the LNG shipments, which showed an increase of 12.1 per cent over 19,341,663 metric tonnes in 2013.
It noted that the Nigerian LNG had maintained its reputation as a reliable and secure supplier of LNG. This had been the major contributor to the continued growth of its shipment and results posted in the last year under review, it added.
Strong growth was also observed in the general cargo trade as it recorded 14,502,263metric tonnes, with an increase of 21.2 per cent over 11,964,978 metric tonnes in 2013; while dry bulk stood at 9,843,199 metric tonnes, showing an increase of 3.2 per cent over 9,537,442 metric tonnes achieved in 2013.
Refined Petroleum had 20,736,699 metric tonnes, an increase of 6.8 per cent over 19,416,043MT in 2013. Laden container throughput was 1,063,380 TEUs, a growth of 5.2 per cent over 1,010,836 TEUs in 2013.
Empty container throughput was 790,586 TEUs, an increase of 10.3 per cent over 717,011 TEUs in 2013. This, the statement said, showed that Nigeria had remained a significant hub of containerised goods in the West and Central Africa.
Crude oil shipment, on the other hand, stood at 107,880,239MT, an increase of 0.2 per cent over 107,686,011MT in 2013.
In the area of port calls, a total of 5,541 oceans going vessels with a total gross registered tonnage of 147,852,920 gross tonnes called at Nigerian ports in 2014, the statement said.
The Lagos Port Complex recorded a GRT of 36,969,456, showing an increase of 7.2 per cent over 34,466,291 gross tonnes achieved in the same period of 2013.
The Tin can Island Port recorded a GRT of 50,011,289, indicating 17 per cent increase over the corresponding period of 2013 which was 42,758,161 gross tonnes.
The Calabar Port Complex recorded a total GRT of 4,085,903 showing an increase of 46.3 per cent compared with 2,792,488 gross tonnes recorded in 2013.
The Rivers Port Complex recorded a total gross registered tonnage of 7,304,591, representing 14.2 per cent growth over 6,394,270 gross tonnes achieved in the corresponding period of 2013.
The Onne Port Complex recorded a GRT of 41,854,687, reflecting an increase of 7.4 per cent over 38,967,131 gross tonnes recorded in the corresponding period of 2013.
The Delta Port Complex recorded 7,626,994 gross tones, showing an increase of 21.1 per cent over the year 2013 figure of 6,295,995 gross tonnes.
It noted that an analysis of the report showed most of the ports recorded an “increase in the GRT of vessels mainly due to the capital and maintenance dredging of the channel by our Joint Venture companies, namely the Lagos Channel Management Company, for the management of the Lagos channel and the Bonny Channel Management Company for the management of the Bonny channel.”
The Managing Director of NPA, Habib Abdullahi, was quoted as commenting on the results, saying, “The NPA is on course. To have achieved the success so far recorded, the management has continued to pay attention to the improvement of existing port infrastructures; rehabilitation of port quay walls and aprons, deepening of our channels, upgrading of our common user facilities and wreck removal from our channels.”
He added that the effect was the biggest vessel, West Africa (WAFMAX) with a length of 232.33 metres and capacity of 4,500 TEUS, requiring draught of 13.5 metres, had started visiting the ports.
Habib added, “To ensure Nigerian ports meet international standards in service delivery, the NPA has continued to vigorously pursue major capital projects in all our port locations nationwide.
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