Mozambique’s Maputo port suffered a steep drop in shipments during the first half of the year amid trade uncertainties and social unrest, according to the company that runs its operations.

The port, a key hub in the global trade of chrome used to make stainless steel — handled 14-million tons of cargo from January through June, said Osório Lucas, chief executive officer at the Maputo Port Development Company. That represents a 14% decline on a year-on-year basis, he said in a virtual interview on Tuesday.

A combination of events, including months of demonstrations following Mozambique’s disputed October elections, contributed to the fall. Lower ferrochrome exports from South Africa due to electricity constraints in that country also played a role, he said.

Operated by a consortium that includes global logistics provider DP World, the port is the country’s largest and is a valuable source of Mozambique’s foreign exchange earnings. It’s also emerged as an increasingly important export terminal for South African coal and chrome producers that have struggled with inefficiencies at ports in their own country.

Volumes have been bouncing back in recent weeks and the port operator is assessing to see whether this continues, Lucas said.

“From May to now, we are seeing a very steep recovery,” he said. “It’s picking up to more than it was last year even.”