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VISÃO GERAL | OVERVIEW“Prevê-se que o comércio do Maláui e da Zâmbia irá crescer. E o acordo da Comunidade para o Desenvolvimento da África Austral significa que é fácil o comércio através das fronteiras e através de Nacala.”Nacala CorridorConnectivity enhancements will also allow the many development projects underway along the Nacala Corridor to realise their full potential, further boosting trade at the Port of Nacala.JICA, as well as financing the port expansion, is committed to a number of these projects. One example is an agricultural scheme that will span three provinces, supporting local farmers by bringing in international expertise. It is likely to lead to notable increases in agricultural volumes once fully operational.Another Nacala Corridor innovation is the 600,000 tons of Elephant Grass that will be exported to Europe annually from 2018. Growing wild in Northern Mozambique, the grass will be used for renewable energy projects. Portos do Norte is also expecting a new business in containerised graphite exports that could realise about 20,000 TEUs a year.A bounce back in the global commodities markets will also benefit the Port of Nacala. Some 30,000 tons of iron ore – extracted in Lapala, in Nampula Province – was exported to Asia through the port during 2014 but with the price of iron ore dropping dramatically, the market has been dormant. Nevertheless, exporting iron ore was an important bulk milestone for the port, being the first mineral traffic to use the gateway.Nacala was also expecting to handle between 1 and 3 million tons of coal for Brazilian mining giant, Vale during 2015. Vale operates its own coal terminal but had been planning to take advantage of the commercial port as well. However, a significant reduction in the global price for coal has seen those plans put on hold.Low prices are also keeping the oil and gas industries relatively quiet but Northern Mozambique is a hotspot for both sectors and the long term outlook is positive, notes Couto. “It is clear that there is enormous potential,” he says. “And the key to unlocking that potential is improving the connectivity with the hinterland. All parties understand this and are working hard to resolve the issue.”global do carvão obrigou a suspensão desses planos. As indústrias de petróleo e gásestão igualmente aatravessar um período calmo devido à descida dos preços destes produtos, mas o norte de Moçambique é um ponto de acesso para ambos os sectores e as perspectivas a longo prazo são positivas, Couto observa. “É claro que existe um enorme potencial”, declara. “E a chave para desbloquear esse potencial está na melhoria das ligações ao interior. Todas as partes compreendem esta questão e estão a trabalhar arduamente para resolver o problema.”Port of Nacala Handbook & Directory 2017 | 2018 11