Tag Archives: graan

New thinking needed at SA ports

New, out of the box thinking is needed by South African ports to accommodate larger vessels. This is according to Ton Bestenbreur, independent ports operations and logistics consultant at the university of Stellenbosch. Bestenbreur was speaking at the annual African Ports Evolution conference and exhibition in Durban this week. “Maersk Line desires 6 000 container moves in under 24 hours for its 18 000 TEU vessels. This translates into 250 container moves per Gross Ship Working Hour or between 40 and 50 average quay crane moves per Gross Crane Hour. This is more than double the figures we currently achieve,” […]

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Drought could cost SA almost R10bn in food export revenue

The South African economy could potentially take a R9.2-billion knock in export revenue loss for food crops as the drought continues. Citing industry sources, Business Day reports that this figure excludes the drought’s effect on farmers’ income, job losses and any inflationary aftermath. Grain South Africa published on its website recently that the country would have to import 770 000 tonnes of maize until the end of April next year at R2.2bn. The country will also need R1bn worth of wheat imports to make up for shortfalls triggered by drought conditions. In the 2013/2014 financial year, SA produced a bumper […]

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Is food shedding next, asks Grain SA

Bloemfontein – There will be food shortages if the government’s land reform policy went ahead, Grain SA has warned. “We have electricity load shedding. Is food shedding next? Will we take turns at eating?” asked Jannie de Villiers, CEO of Grain SA during a media conference at the Nampo show in Bothaville. “We are not saying no to land reform, but we are looking for plans that can ensure food security in the country. But grain producers say no to minister Gugile Nkwinti’s [Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform] 50:50 land ownership plans. “These plans fall outside government’s policy […]

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