The Namibian Ports Authority’s (NAMPORT) cargo volumes at its Walvis Bay port have increased by 15% over the past year. This is despite the economic downturn, experienced in the country and globally. Three years ago the port authority handled 300 000 tonnes and last year those volumes increased to 450 000 tonnes. This year cargo volumes jumped to 600 000 tonnes, representing a 15% increase. Tino !Hanabeb is the Executive: Commercial at NAMPORT and he is pleased by the fairly significant increase in the face of the global economic climate. !Hanabeb says cargo were mostly from and for Zambia, DRC, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and even Malawi, located some 2 900 kilometres away. He also said the transport and logistics sectors have picked up significantly this year with some of the major operators having being booked for up to three months in advance. !Hanabeb revealed that the new and expanded container terminal is 88% complete. He explains the current container terminal will be turned in a general cargo handling area where loose items, referred to as break bulk cargo such as mining chemicals, railway material and cargo that are in two tonne and five tonne bags, will be kept for loading as return loads for trucks, coming and going on the various transport corridors. Construction on the new expanded container terminal started in 2014 and is expected to be operational by mid 2019.