Resource information
Based on quantitative and qualitative
data, this paper attempts to identify the main reasons why
cargo dwell time in Durban port has dramatically reduced in
the past decade to a current average of 3-4 days. A major
customs reform; changes in port storage tariffs coupled with
strict enforcement; massive investments in infrastructure
and equipment; and changing customer behavior through
contractualization between the port operator and shipping
lines or between customs, importers, and brokers have all
played a major role. The main lesson for Sub-Saharan Africa
that can be drawn from Durban is that cargo dwell time is
mainly a function of the characteristics of the private
sector, but it is the onus of public sector players, such as
customs and the port authority, to put pressure on the
private sector to make more efficient use of the port and
reduce cargo dwell time.
