As North Club reports, Ivory Coast and Senegal are applying a ‘traffic rights’ levy on internationally trading vessels that load or discharge cargo at their ports, which are resulting in significant costs to shipowners.
Accordingly, L’Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA) issued regulations concerning the ‘Rights of Maritime Traffic’ took effect on 1 January 2020. The regulations include the collection of fees from vessels based on the amount of cargo being imported or exported.
The UEMOA regulation states that goods in transhipment or in transit do not give rise to fees levied by its member coastal states.
Concerning Ivory Coast:
- Importing: 1,000 FCFA (approx. US$1.70) per ton of goods. A reduction in fees to 500 FCFA (US$0.85) is applied for the import of cargoes of wheat, rice and the raw materials used in the manufacture of cement (includes limestone, clinker, slag and gypsum)
- Exporting: 800 FCFA (approx. US$1.36) per ton of goods.
The Ivorian authorities warn shipowners that they should not seek reimbursement of these fees from cargo interests.
Concerning Senegal:
- Importing: Rice and wheat are exempt. Cement has been given a reduced right of 800 FCFA per ton. Other products are charged about 1,000 FCFA per ton. Amount is based upon the cargo manifest. Provision is charged by the Agent in the ‘Proforma Disbursement Account’ (PDA) to their principals, who could be the Owners and or Charterers. When cargo operations are completed and declarations made, payment is made to ANAM.
- Exporting: Cement is rated at 400 FCFA per ton, all other products are charged at 800 FCFA. Amount to be taxed is assessed once the cargo is loaded as per draft survey.
Other UEMOA countries:
Concerning Benin:
The levy will be applied soon but is currently suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Concerning Togo:
No information yet.
Concerning Mali and Niger:
They are expected to call for the levy to be introduced after the COVID-19 pandemic.
