Grindrod Logistics Africa has officially inaugurated a new warehouse facility at Namibia’s Port of Walvis Bay, signalling a strategic investment in cross-border trade facilitation across Southern and Central Africa. Located adjacent to berths 7 and 8, the 4,000-square-metre facility is integrated within Grindrod’s existing 50,000-square-metre operational premises. The infrastructure supports intermodal connectivity—road, rail, and sea—enabling more seamless regional cargo movement across a key logistical axis.
The warehouse is weatherproof and meets full Safety, Health, Environment, and Quality (SHEQ) standards as outlined by the Namibian Ports Authority, reflecting both compliance and operational efficiency in port infrastructure development. The facility has been developed in close collaboration with Namport, underscoring a public-private partnership model aimed at reasserting the Port of Walvis Bay’s strategic position as a resilient, multi-country trade gateway.
According to Frans Visser, Operations Executive at Grindrod Logistics Africa, the geographical location of Walvis Bay enables direct maritime access to international markets and serves as a natural entry point for goods moving inland towards South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The investment aligns with Grindrod’s long-standing history in Walvis Bay, spanning over five decades, where it has offered integrated logistics solutions that include stevedoring, terminal operations, ships agency services, container logistics, and customs clearing.
The expansion is set to enhance the port’s cargo throughput capacity and operational agility, particularly for bulk and containerised goods. “We see Walvis Bay as a scalable and reliable transit corridor,” stated Andrew Sturrock, CEO of the Grindrod Logistics segment. “Our continued investment is informed by our purpose-driven commitment to Africa’s trade integration and our focus on delivering reliable, cost-effective, and customer-centric solutions.”
The warehouse is not merely an infrastructure project but forms part of a broader socio-economic strategy. Grindrod has committed to employing up to 100 personnel across various operational levels, with a strong emphasis on local workforce development. Skills training and job creation remain pivotal in the company’s community engagement strategy, reinforcing its emphasis on sustainability and empowerment.
Visser added that infrastructure alone is not sufficient: “We must ensure that people on the ground have the skills and opportunities to manage high-volume cargo flows. Community development is essential to the long-term viability of trade corridors.” This commitment to inclusive economic participation demonstrates a grounded understanding of logistics as an enabler of regional development, rather than a stand-alone commercial function.
Grindrod’s future investment roadmap for the port includes further expansion in alignment with projected cargo volumes and collaboration with state-owned entities to develop more cost-effective logistics chains. This vision is aligned with regional development agendas such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which prioritises intra-African trade, regional value chains, and infrastructure connectivity.
Rather than anchoring its expansion strategy solely in extractive economic models or short-term financial returns, Grindrod is positioning itself as a long-term player in Africa’s complex logistics terrain. Its business model recognises the intricate link between infrastructure, policy alignment, and socio-economic transformation—rejecting narrow narratives that frame African ports only as conduits for foreign trade.
Walvis Bay, therefore, represents more than a node in maritime commerce. It is emerging as a multi-directional logistics hub that links coastal and inland economies while offering an alternative to congested Southern African routes. In this respect, the investment goes beyond corporate interest; it contributes to reshaping how African trade corridors are designed, managed, and ultimately owned.
Grindrod’s approach reflects a paradigm shift towards African-centred logistics solutions that address both physical infrastructure and human capital. As transnational trade intensifies, this model may offer a template for other corridors across the continent, especially those seeking to balance commercial growth with local empowerment and sustainable development.
