Four big cargo ships that supply goods from China have failed to dock at Mombasa port for the second month in a row. PHOTO | FILE | NMG The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), in a response to The EastAfrican queries, said the four Chinese ships have not docked at the Mombasa Port in January and February, implying eight shipments have failed to arrive during the two months.
Most Chinese factories are on lockdown as Beijing scrambles to contain the outbreak, disrupting supply chains across the world.
Four big cargo ships that supply goods from China have failed to dock at Mombasa port for the second month in a row following the coronavirus outbreak, pointing to a possible surge in prices of consumer goods in the region.
Mombasa is the gateway through which Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and parts of Tanzania, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo import their goods.
East African Countries import a wide range of goods from China including consumables, electronics, construction materials, vehicle spare parts, clothing, furniture, kitchenware, raw materials and machinery.
The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), in a response to The EastAfrican queries, said the four Chinese ships have not docked at the Mombasa Port in January and February, implying eight shipments have failed to arrive during the two months.
Most Chinese factories are on lockdown as Beijing scrambles to contain the outbreak, disrupting supply chains across the world.
“The port of Mombasa receives three big dischargers (imports) from China under Evergreen Line and one COSCO ship on a monthly basis. These four ships have not called since the coronavirus effect in China,” said the KPA managing director Daniel Manduku.
China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) is a Chinese State-owned shipping line.
Coronavirus has infected more than 81,000 people globally in about 44 countries, killing more than 2,800.
KPA predicts that the downturn in imports from China will become clearer in March.“There is an anticipated effect on the throughput in the following months from February given the reduced trading volumes with China as a major trading partner,” said Mr Manduku.A study by the UK-based independent think tank, Overseas Development Institute (ODI), shows that Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda are among the world’s 97 economies that are most exposed to a Chinese slowdown either directly or indirectly.In 2019, China’s trade with Africa stood at $208 billion, while exports were estimated at $113.2 billion.The report, which was released this February, shows that sub-Saharan […]