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Cape Town - Transnet's results for the financial year to
March 2012 - released on Tuesday - show strong growth in rail volumes and
revenue.
Freight rail moved an unprecedented 201 million tonnes (mt)
of freight, a 10.4% increase compared to the previous year - the highest
tonnage moved in Transnet's history, the parastatal said in a statement.
"This performance includes a significant improvement in
the number of trains operated per day. In October 2011, we ran the highest
number of trains per day at 1444, (up) from about 800 trains per day in the
previous period."
General freight volumes rose 9.9% to 81mt from 73.7mt in the
previous financial year, while containers on rail increased 21.5% to 762,760
twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from 627,825 TEUs, indicating a growth in
market share and significant strides in taking rail-friendly cargo off the
roads.
Export coal volumes increased by 8.8% to 67.7mt from 62.2mt,
while iron ore volumes jumped by 13.2% to 52.3mt from the previous year's
46.2mt.
Both heavy haul lines achieved record weekly throughput
(productivity) levels of 1.7mt and 1.2mt, respectively.
"Our new railways operating strategy is beginning to
pay off, with on-time departures and arrivals for general freight business
improving by 18.9% and 17.7% respectively, compared to the previous year."
Group revenue for the year increased by 20.9% to R45.9bn
from R38bn in the previous period, mainly due to growth in volumes in the
general freight, export coal, export iron ore, and container volumes, as well
as an 18% improvement in productivity.
As a consequence of the solid operational performance across
the company, Transnet's key measure of profitability, earnings before interest,
taxation, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 19.8% to R18.9bn
from last year's R15.8bn.
This was in spite of a 21.8% increase in operating costs to
R27bn from R22.2bn in the previous period.
The main drivers of the higher expenses were a 46.4%
increase in material costs, an 18.8% increase in personnel costs, as well as a
31.4% jump in energy prices.
"These increases were in line with our rising activity
levels, accompanied by higher maintenance costs to support volume growth, costs
of improving safety in the workplace - a key priority - as well as higher
electricity tariffs and fuel price increases."
At the ports, port terminals continued to boost efficiency
levels with average moves per gross crane hour (GCH) increasing by 8.1% to
26.6GCH from 24.6 GCH in the previous period.
Average tons loaded per hour at the Saldanha iron ore
terminal improved by 4.1% to 7242 tonnes per hour, and the Richards Bay dry
bulk terminal's loading rate was up 2.7% to 678 tonnes per hour.
Improved operational performance in Transnet's operations was
accompanied by increased employment.
"During the period, we increased our employee numbers
by 3 159 people, mainly to support Transnet's investment and operational
activities.
"In addition, our activities resulted in the creation
of 27 964 new jobs in supplier-related industries across the economy."
Capital investment for the year increased to a record
R22.3bn (excluding capitalised borrowing costs) with R11.6bn being invested in
capacity expansion and R10.7bn in maintenance of existing capacity.
The year's investment lifted the total amount spent over the past seven years to R115.5bn, Transnet said.
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