transport world africa september/october 2014
DESCRIPTION
The September/October 2014 edition of Transport World AfricaTRANSCRIPT
Commercial Vehicles Driver Wellness
Supply Chain Logistics Managing Change
Logistics Maputo Corridor
ISSN 1684-7946 Mar/Apr 2013 Vol. 11 No. 2 / R40.00 incl. VAT
Barbara Mommon, CEO, MCLI – Ten years of partnered progress on the Maputo Corridor P26
ISSN 1684-7946 September/October 2014 Vol. 12 No. 5 / R50.00 incl. VAT
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INSIDETHIS ISSUEE
COVER STORYRenault Trucks:
Entering a new era in Southern Africa
P6
onsumeerr
ORYYcks:a in ica
P66
ENDORSED BY
Driver Wellness Managing Change
Maputo Corridor
ISSN 1684-7946 Mar/Apr 2013 Vol. 11 No. 2 / R40.00 incl. VAT
Barbara Mommon, CEO MCLI, – Ten Years of Partnership for Progress on the Maputo Corridor P26
ISSN 1684-7946 September/October 2014 Vol. 12 No. 5 / R50.00 incl. VAT
Enteringring a Na New Eew Erara inin SoutSouthernhern AfrAfricaicaRRRRRRRRRReeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnaaaaauuuuuulllllltttttt TTTTTTTrrrrruuuuuuuuuccccckkkkkkkksssssssss
30 10
20
36 39
REGULARSEditor’s Comment Inspiration is everywhere! 2FESARTA Implementing uniform loads through Africa 5Cover Story Renault Trucks: Entering a new era in
Southern Africa 6Regional News 8
COMMERCIAL VEHICLESFAW makes history in South Africa 10Light commercials make light work 12
FLEET MANAGEMENTThe quest for employee wellness 14Driving core values 16A great return on investment 17
FUEL Finding the right lubricant at the touch of a button 18
CORRIDORS A decade of partnered progress on the Maputo Corridor 20
WAREHOUSING Inventory movement and control 27
SUPPLY CHAIN LOGISTICSFast-tracking growth in Africa 28
Enabling African growth and expansion 30
Managing change in supply chain evolution 33
SADC urged to take on the North-South Corridor 35
PORTS
Mozambican port propelling the region forward 36
TRAINING Providing relief to skills-strapped industry 38
RAIL TECHNOLOGY The future of railway management in Africa 39
AIR CARGO July air freight volumes expanded 40
1TWA | Sept/Oct 2014
2 TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
EDITOR’S COMMENT
I VISIT A TRANSPORT OPERATOR and hear how
they are uplifting their employees.
I hear how an OEM is assisting the industry in
empowering drivers to help improve the bottom line.
I listen to CEOs from a diverse range of industries talk
about the future and the growth potential in Africa.
I speak to a transport oper-
ator who is buying trucks to
meet the growing expansion
of his company.
I meet a car guard who is
studying to be an engineer.
Inspiration is everywhere.
You do not have to look far
to find it.
I always find it amazing
that, when times are tough,
I come across inspiration-
al stories that always have
the effect of changing my
mindset into a positive one.
Yes, the tough times are still
there but tackling them with a
more positive attitude makes
a world of difference.
I have a friend who says
they have stopped watching
the news and reading news-
papers because it is too depressing. There are inspiration-
al stories out there and we need to feature these as well.
Feel free to send me your inspirational industry stories.
In this issue, I look at driver wellness, a competition
geared towards uplifting truck drivers, a discussion at
the recent Global Community Growth, Innovation and
Leadership event between CEOs, 10 years of the MCLI,
as well as managing change in the supply chain, inven-
tory movement and control, plus the future of railway
management.
As always, a varied and interesting read.
Enjoy!
Simon Foulds
Publisher Elizabeth Shorten
Editor Simon Foulds • [email protected]
Head of design Hayley Mendelow
Senior designer Frédérick Danton
Designer Kirsty Galloway
Contributors Raymond Abraham, Barney Curtis,
Mario Landman, Barbara Mommon
Chief sub-editor Tristan Snijders
Sub-editor Beatrix Knopjes
Client services & production manager Antois-Leigh Botma
Production coordinator Jacqueline Modise
Marketing manager Hestelle Robinson
Digital manager Esther Louw
Distribution manager Nomsa Masina
Distribution coordinator Asha Pursotham
Financial manager Andrew Lobban
Administrator Tonya Hebenton
Printers United Litho JHB • t +27 (0)11 402 0571
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ISSN 1684-7946 © Copyright. All rights reserved.
All articles herein Transport World Africa are copyright-protected and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the publisher. The views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers.
Editor in action
Inspiration is everywhere!
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5TWA | Sept/Oct 2014
by Barney Curtis, chief executive offi cer, FESARTA
FESARTA COMMENT
The Charter is almost ready for signingThis Load Charter is in some ways similar to the earlier
Load Accreditation Programme, now the Road Transport
Management System (RTMS), in South Africa. It makes
sense to use the experiences learnt from RTMS in the
implementation of the Load Charter.
With the above in mind, a workshop was held in
Kampala, Uganda, on 18 and 19 August, in which all
the related load limits and overloading control matters
tabled and deliberated on. The workshop was hosted by
the Northern Corridor Authority, and funded by the Sub-
Saharan Africa Transport Policy Programme (SSATP).
It is expected that the outcomes from the workshop will
be used in the final recommendations/legislation for mem-
ber states in East and Southern Africa.
FESARTA held its AGM, also funded by SSATP, at the
same venue on 20 August.
Barney Curtis
THE PROJECT was carried out because East
Africa had fallen a bit behind COMESA (Common
Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) and
SADC in keeping its Acts and Regulations up to
date with these matters.
It is an accepted principle between the three Regional
Economic Communities (REC) in the COMESA/EAC/SADC
tripartite alliance that, if one REC led a regional project, it
would be done on behalf of the other two RECs. The other
two RECs would participate in the project and hopefully
adopt the outcomes of the project.
Most of the outcomes of this project had already been
adopted by COMESA and SADC, so there were only a few
(e.g. super single tyre load limits) that these two RECs
needed to adopt. This adoption is still outstanding.
An important point from this project is that the EAC is a
REC that produces Acts of Parliament that supersede the
national legislation in EAC member states. This is unlike
COMESA and SADC, which produce recommendations to
member states.
The outcomes from the project have already been
included in a new EAC Act, and it now remains for EAC
to draw up Regulations to give effect to the Act. It is very
important that the right regulations are drawn up, not only
because they will become law in East Africa, but also
because COMESA and SADC should be adopting them as
recommendations to their member states.
A second important process underway in East Africa is
the drawing up and signing of a Load Charter; an agree-
ment between the transporters and authorities in the mem-
ber states along the Northern Corridor (Kenya, Uganda,
Rwanda and Burundi). The transporters are agreeing to
abide by the load control legislation and the authorities are
agreeing to treat the transporters fairly.
Implementing uniform loads through AfricaIn 2011, the East African Community (EAC) carried out a project to determine the optimal load limits and overloading control procedures for East Africa.
Entering a new era in Southern
Africa
RENAULT TRUCKS
We are very optimistic about our
prospective performance in the
market in 2014,” says Herman
Venter, general manager for com-
mercial sales at Renault Trucks Southern Africa.
“We are aiming to steadily increase our market share
within the next 36 months.”
Renault Trucks is present in over 100 countries
with 14 000 employees globally. Although Renault
Trucks’ primary focus is the design, manufacture
and sale of commercial vehicles, it does a great
deal more than that to ensure its customers’ satisfac-
tion. It aims not only to advise customers during the
decision-making and purchasing processes via recom-
mendations, expert insight and financing solutions, but
also to maintain customer service throughout vehicles’
operating lives.
COVER STORY
“
This is a big year in the history of Renault Trucks in Southern Africa This is a big year in the history of Renault Trucks in Southern Africa with the company launching two new product ranges in October. with the company launching two new product ranges in October.
6 TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
COVER STORY
Building on the legacy of more than a century of innovative
French trucking know-how since 1894, Renault Trucks sup-
plies transport professionals with the tools they need to more
efficiently conduct their business. The company forms part
of the Volvo Group, the world’s second largest manufacturer
of commercial vehicles, which provides it with access to the
best resources and expertise.
New ranges coming in OctoberIn October 2014, Renault Trucks SA will be introducing the
new C-range intended for light construction and long haul
applications, as well as the K-range, aimed at heavy construc-
tion applications. Renault Trucks currently has the successful
Kerax, Midlum and Premium Loader ranges in its stable.
The manufacturer is currently deploying significant resourc-
es to ensure that the new ranges deliver maximum reliability
for when they are introduced into the country. They are under-
going exacting quality trials and are also
being tested under actual operating con-
ditions. Ruggedness, working comfort,
payload, pulling power, new engines, low
fuel consumption and easy body mount-
ing all make these trucks the perfect tools
for demanding construction businesses.
The cab is one of the most striking fea-
tures offered by these new robust vehicle
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ranges it is more spacious, more comfortable and more
ergonomic with its use of rotating buttons. A step on the
side has been incorporated into the design, allowing drivers
to easily check their loads. The vehicles will also offer fail-
safe ruggedness with reinforced protection for all exposed
parts liable to suffer impacts. The design of the new Renault
Trucks range of vehicles is dedicated to achieving efficiency.
Renault’s designers have chosen to focus on the truck’s role
as a tool serving fleet owners – a tool enabling them to carry
out their assignments as efficiently as possible.
Saving fuel has been a major component of the trucks’
design, resulting in the vehicles’ aerodynamics being modelled
to obtain the highest possible air-penetration performance.
“We believe Renault Trucks supports fleet owners, specifi-
cally in the construction industry, in their contribution to the
development of the region’s economies. Trucks play a truly
vital role in Southern Africa, not just in carrying goods but in
ensuring that a vast range of services continues to operate,”
says Venter.
Expert local supportIn South Africa, Renault Trucks’ dealer network is integrated
with that of Volvo Trucks, and offers customers caring, inno-
vative and efficient support.
With the introduction of the new range, Renault Trucks SA
will also reaffirm the brand’s commitment to its South African
customers, with advanced ser-
vice and aftermarket offerings
introduced with the launch of
the new product ranges.
“As transport operators
expand their operations
throughout the region, we
know our Renault Trucks deal-
ers are there to capture this
market demand and support
customers every step of the
way. We believe our dealers
are experts in their field and
completely customer-focused,
and are able to provide our
customers in the region with
unparalleled support and ser-
vice,” says Venter.
“The new K and C ranges will
create a completely new plat-
form for Renault Trucks SA and
set the brand for the future. We
are working hard to put every-
thing in place for the success
for our customers.”
Renault Trucks dealers are there to capture this market demand and support customers every step of the way
www.renault-trucks.co.za
MAIN IMAGE Renault Trucks Kerax
LEFT Renault Trucks workshop
7TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
8 TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
REGIONAL NEWS Read more on www.transportworldafrica.co.za
ACCORDING TO THE DTI, the roll-out of
special economic zones (SEZs) is on track.
Dr Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Indus-
try, says, “Within the next three months, we
will be passing all the regulations necessary
to establish a SEZ board so that we can go
ahead and establish SEZs. We have already
fast-tracked a couple of them.”
Earlier this year, President Jacob Zuma
approved the Special Economic Zones Bill.
The Bill, which supports a broader-based
industrialisation growth path, also aims to
support balanced regional industrial growth
and the development of more competitive
and productive regional economies. “Simul-
taneously with processing the legislation, we
embarked on a process, together with the
provinces, of conducting feasibility studies on
potential SEZs, some IDZs (industrial devel-
opment zones] and the other forms provided
in the Act.”
Public consultations are underway for the
Harrismith Trade Port in the Free State to
become an IDZ.
To date, five IDZs have been designated,
which are Coega, East London, Richards
Bay, O.R. Tambo and the newly designated
Saldanha Bay, in October 2013. Work is also
well advanced on industrial sector SEZs,
including two potential platinum value chain-
based SEZs – one in the North West and
another in Limpopo.
EAST AFRICA
$223.5 million to boost trade TRADE IN the East African
Community has been given a
boost by the African Development
Bank (AfDB) agreeing to fund the
upgrade of a busy regional road
key to increasing the movement of
goods in the region.
$223.5 million has been granted
by the AfDB for the project.
The road being upgraded runs
from Taveta to Voi in Kenya and
is being rehabilitated to create
another major transport corridor in
the region. This will then link the
Port of Mombasa with northern
Tanzania and landlocked countries
in the region.
Source: AllAfrica.com
MOZAMBIQUE
Mozambique creates fi ve toll roadsFIVE NEW TOLL ROADSin Mozambique look set to be
operational before the end of the year.
Affected are the Matola/Boane, Mar-
racuene/Lindela, Vanduzi/Changara,
Nampula/Nacala and Monapo/Ilha de
Moçambique roads.
Cadmiel Muthemba, from the
Mozambique Ministry of Public Works
and Housing, says, “The development
of public-private partnerships with
the exclusive participation of national
companies will enable those sections
to be maintained by consolidating the
user-payer concept.
Only two toll roads currently operate
in Mozambique – in Maputo province,
managed by South Africa’s Trans
African Concessions, and in Tete with
Estradas do Zambeze.
OVER THE NEXT fi nancial
year, the Department of Trans-
port (DoT) says it will focus its
energy on investing in develop-
ing the country’s road, rail, mari-
time and aviation infrastructure
networks in order to help unlock
the full potential of the economy.
Sindisiwe Chikunga, Deputy
Minister of Transport, says, “In-
tegrating all forms of transport is
key to economic growth.”
The DoT tabled the National
Transport Master Plan at the
end of the second quarter of the
2013/14 fi nancial year, which
Cabinet has since referred to the
Inter-Ministerial Committee for
consultations with the Presiden-
tial Infrastructure Coordinating
Commission.
The plan seeks to integrate dif-
ferent modes of transport, with
the aim of bolstering economic
activity and eventually growth.
Chikunga adds, “With the
DoT’s budget not able to fund
road infrastructure development,
there is need for government to
come up with funding models.
“We have to fi nd a way and
actually begin to discuss the
issue of funding models for
infrastructure development,
particularly roads.
“We believe this is a discussion
that all of us need to participate
in so that we do not merely
criticise when different funding
models are introduced. We
must be able to fi nd the most
effective funding model for our
infrastructure development and
support it.”
SOUTH AFRICA
Investment in road infrastructure will unlock economic growth
SOUTH AFRICA
Special economic zones roll-out
9TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
THE MOMBASA Port Community
Charter (MPCC) is being launched in
East Africa, aimed at enhancing infra-
structural development and improving
effi ciency in clearing cargo.
The MPCC brings together 24 agen-
cies to both coordinate and improve ef-
fi ciencies at the port. Once the MPCC is
implemented, it is envisaged that it will
lead to doubling trade in the region to
KSh2.9 trillion (R350 billion) by 2016.
It is also expected to enhance the
fl ow of transport along the Northern
Corridor from the port through to
Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. The
commissioning of Berth 19 at the port
is set to increase the container handling
facility. The development of the new
berth, which commenced in July 2011,
has seen the total quay length of the
Mombasa Container Terminal grow to
840 metres.
Construction is also underway for a
second container terminal at the port,
which will have a capacity of handling
1.2 million twenty-foot equivalent
units annually.
The Port of Mombasa connects the
Northern Corridor markets, including
Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South-
ern Sudan and the eastern DRC.
KENYA
Enhancing effi ciency at Mombasa port
REGIONAL NEWS
SUPPORT FOR THE automotive sector is set to increase
says Rob Davies, Minister at the Department of Trade and
Industry. Davies was speaking during the DTI budget vote in
Cape Town.
“First, we see acceleration in the automotive sector, where
the Automotive Production Development Programme (APDP)
has already supported signifi cant new investment in the sec-
tor. Projected capital expenditure for 2014 is anticipated to
reach a record level of R7.9 billion.”
The work of the APDP has been acknowledged by big
industry role players, such as the National Association of
Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa, who have largely
attributed the relatively high levels of capital expenditure to
this programme.
The APDP’s objective is to raise the volume of cars manu-
factured in South Africa to 1.2 million annually by 2020, as
well as to diversify the component chain. Adds Davies, “In the
coming year, the APDP will undergo an early review. This will
make us take stock of efforts and determine what more can
be achieved in growing the industry in South Africa.”
In other efforts to grow the sector, the Automotive Supply
Chain Competitiveness Initiative was launched last year to
enhance localisation, production and supplier capabilities.
According to Davies, this was proving to be a success and
his department would continue to expand the programme.
“Since the introduction of the Automotive Investment
Scheme (AIS) in 2010/11, public sector-approved incentives
amounted to R6.3 billion and supported investments worth
R23 billion by original equipment manufacturers in the auto-
motive sector.
“The intention of the AIS is to grow and develop the auto-
motive sector through investment in new and replacement
models, as well as the manufacturing of automotive com-
ponents. The objective here is to increase plant production
volumes, sustain employment and strengthen the automotive
value chain.
“Given that automotive comprises 30% of our industrial sec-
tor, with strong linkages to other manufacturing sub-sectors,
the impact of such investment on our domestic economy
is signifi cant.”
Davies says the automotive sector employs over 100 000
people and concludes, “It is an important sector that we will
continue to support.”
SOUTH AFRICA
Increased support for automotive sector
Rob Davies, Minister at the DTI
TRADE MARK EAST AFRICA, which is instrumental in assisting
countries in East Africa improve
the free fl ow of freight through the
region, gives TWA an update on what
is happening in the region.
Northern Corridor
Importers and businesses in Rwanda
and the rest of the Northern Corridor
can soon expect timely and effi cient
services at the Port of Mombasa.
This follows the signing of the Mom-
basa Port Community Charter by
Kenya and the regional public and
private agencies involved in port af-
fairs. The charter, signed at the Port
of Mombasa, is expected to improve
effi ciency and boost trade across
East Africa. The charter will, among
others, aid the establishment of lo-
gistical and transport infrastructure,
improve operational effi ciency and
facilitate regulation and oversight
engagement. Karin Andersson, chair-
person of the board of TradeMark
East Africa, said the port, being the
gateway to numerous countries, will
ease the cost of doing business.
Customs
The single customs territory (SCT),
whose major objective is to overcome
the hurdle of slow and costly move-
ment of goods and services and also
improve the business environment in
the region, is yet to be fully operation-
al even after the lapse of the 1 July
deadline. In the Northern Corridor,
the SCT project has moved on from
its lengthy pilot stage to an advanced
stage, but not all goods have been
added onto it. Tanzania and Burundi,
which make up the Central Corridor,
began implementation on 1 July but
are piloting with only a few products.
Border posts
Local and regional traders using the
Tanzania-Burundi border post will
no longer spend much time cross-
ing the border, under a pilot basis
implementation of the One-Stop
Border Post in Kabanga,Tanzania,
and Kobero, Burundi.
SADC
East Africa update
10 TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
THE OPENING OF THE latest expansion in local
vehicle manufacturing marked a historic moment
in the South African automotive industry. As the
first South African-built FAW commercial vehicle
rolled off the assembly line at the FAW Vehicle Manufacturers
South Africa production plant at Coega, Jacob Zuma, who
officiated the opening, said the new plant was indicative of
a positive future for the industry. “This is the culmination of
a $60 million investment in the Eastern Cape, as well as
the start of resurgence in the primary automotive industry,
second-tier industries and the creation of many new jobs.”
President Zuma said: “Following our BRICS trade
agreements, this massive investment by a Chinese cor-
poration augurs well for the future of the partnership
between our countries.
“The establishment of the FAW Coega plant has the added
advantage that South Africa remains seen as an investment
target of choice. This is an example
to other global companies, which can
rest assured that the South African
government is doing everything pos-
sible to maintain its world-class offer-
ing as a springboard into unlocking
the potential of the African continent,”
said Zuma. “Our focus in the next five
years is to provide a sustainable energy
mix for the country. Energy security is
key to enhancing South Africa’s global
competitiveness.
“As far as the current strike in the
metal industries is concerned, I trust that this will be resolved
amicably, without violence, reaching a speedy resolution. This
is in the interest of all of South Africans,” Zuma continued.
“Opening the FAW plant here in Coega will remain a
remarkable example of the posi-
tive cooperation that we as South
Africans can attract from foreign inves-
tors. It is imperative to job creation,
our growth and future prosperity,”
Zuma concluded.
Minister of Trade and Industries Rob
Davies, in his address, indicated that
FAW’s decision to build commer-
cial vehicles locally from completely
knocked down kits (CKDs), being
the first OEM to do so across its
entire range in South Africa, is a clear
indication that Government’s immi-
nent plan to extend the Automotive
Production Development Plan to the commercial vehicle
CKD manufacturers, bus manufacturers and local compo-
nent manufacturing industry, will attract further expansion in
the automotive industry.
Qin Huanming, vice-president of the China FAW Group
Corporation, said: “As a shining pearl on the African con-
tinent, South Africa enjoys sound political, economic and
legal systems, as well as excellent infrastructure and abun-
dant labour resources. These favourable conditions have
strengthened FAW’s confidence to invest in South Africa.”
The decision to build the FAW plant in South Africa was
very significant from a global perspective, as it is one of the
most important and largest investments made by a Chinese
entity in South Africa to date. The total investment
was financed by China FAW Group Corporation
and the China-Africa Development Fund together
with FAW Africa Investment Company. This col-
laboration speaks volumes to the growing interest
from global Chinese industry in unlocking the true
African potential.
A number of firsts for FAW Vehicle Manufacturers South AfricaAt a cost of $60 million towards the establish-
ment of the modern, high-quality vehicle produc-
tion plant and its entire associated infrastructure,
it is truly the largest recent vote of confidence in
the local vehicle industry. The Coega plant with
its build capacity of 5 000 units per annum,
represents the first high-quality Chinese man-
ufacturer to set up and contribute on this scale
in the Eastern Cape region.
FAW Vehicle Manufacturers South Africa is
the first OEM to locally build its entire range
FAW makes history in Coega IDZ, and surrounding areas in the Eastern Cape, is set for substantial growth after FAW Vehicle Manufacturers South Africa offi cially opened its vehicle manufacturing plant in July this year.
“This massive investment by a Chinese corporation augurs well for the future of this partnership between our countries.” President Jacob Zuma
Offi ciating the opening of the historic FAW manufacturing plant in Coega earlier this month – Mr Qin Huanming, vice president of the China FAW Group Corporation, President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, and Harris Moodley from FAW South Africa
11TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
of commercial vehicles sold here; 14 models spanning the
medium, heavy and extra-heavy commercial vehicle seg-
ments. Henceforth all FAW trucks in South Africa can carry a
badge of honour: ‘Made in South Africa’.
Future plans include the commissioning of a body-building
facility at the Coega plant. Tipper truck bodies, mixers
and customised trailers will be built in the facility, adjoin-
ing the main plant. FAW will be the first South Africa-based
OEM to offer its body-building facility to other commercial
vehicle manufacturers.
Originally announced in 2012, the decision to construct
the local FAW plant was not one that was taken lightly,
explained FAW Vehicle Manufacturers South Africa: “We
could have gone to Kenya or Tanzania, where FAW has
been present in sales and service for over 30 years. In the
end we chose South Africa because of the infrastructure.
It then came down to a choice between East London and
Coega.” In the end Coega was chosen because, “the infra-
structure is perfect.”
The first phase of the Coega plant, covering 103 000 m2
of land and a 28 000 m2 plant – complete with training
facilities – allows the company to provide its extensive client
base with a sense of pride and patriotism by buying local.
The plant will ramp up to produce 5 000 trucks per annum,
supplying trucks to the South African market, as well as to
the rest of Africa, in both right- and left-hand-drive deriva-
tives. Plans in place estimate that 40% of production will
be destined for the South African territories, while 60% will
be exported.
FAW remains positive about the future and the growth plan
that has been formulated for the FAW brand in South Africa.
FAW, internationally, rose as a result of the political dispensa-
tion in China, which allowed more free-market enterprise and
encouraged overseas exports. “As China grew then,
so will Africa grow now, and FAW is ideally placed
to benefit from the demand for vehicles on the
continent as we have established a solid presence,
where it counts,” concluded Qin Huanming.
South Africa
www.faw.co.za
12 TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
New vehicles over the next twelve monthsHannes Oosthuizen – brand manager at GWM
HO: There are a number of changes coming to the Steed
line-up, including a new diesel engine, special edition
off-road-oriented models, and additions at the top aimed
at the leisure market. We are confident that we will soon
be offering the most complete and extensive pick-up line-
up available in the South African market. Note that many
derivatives of the current Steed 5 will continue, even with
the addition of new Steed 5E and Steed 6 models.
Dawid van der Merwe – fleet operations manager at
Ford South Africa
DvM: We are launching an exciting new line-up of vehicles
that will expand our commercial vehicle fleet substantially.
We will be entering the two-tonne sector with the introduc-
tion of Transit, which will be available in panel van and
chassis cab derivatives. We will also be introducing the
12- and 18-seater Tourneo bus. A new derivative of the
Ranger, specifically designed for heavy duty work, is also
on the cards in the next 12 months. More will be revealed
later this year.
Ian Nicholls – vice-president of GM South Africa
Operations at GMSA
IN: We launched the sixth-generation Isuzu pickup into
the South African and south-east African markets dur-
ing the first half of last year. The pickup was launched in
East Africa earlier this year and is in the process of being
launched to our left-hand-drive markets in sub-Saharan
Africa. The sixth-generation pickup is assembled at our
vehicle assembly plant in Port Elizabeth. Additionally,
we build and sell the sub-one-tonne Chevrolet Utility,
which has led in its segment of the market for over
9 years in a row.
Veralda Schmidt – manager: media relations
at Nissan
VS: We have just introduced our new Patrol pickup into the
market. This follows hot on the heels of the NV350 panel-
van and NV350 Impendulo taxi. The NV200 seven-seater
combi and panelvan was launched last year. Existing light
commercial vehicles such as the NP200 pickup, NP300
hardbody pickup and the Navara pickup are also holding
their own in the market.
Optimistic about the road aheadHO: Yes, the South African love affair with pickups will con-
tinue, because they fit the way we as South Africans work
and play. Cost is a worry – as these vehicles are becom-
ing increasingly more sophisticated, costs are going up
and affordability may become an issue. Manufacturers will
have to find ways to address this at the lower end, which
isn’t always easy because most of these vehicles are
developed with other markets in mind.
DvM: We want to offer our customers – whether they are
fleet customers or those buying passenger vehicles – the
full range. With almost 70% of all new vehicle sales going
to fleet buyers, the fleet sector is a big segment within
the overall motor industry. There is huge potential with
the increased focus and support to develop business
within South Africa and the SADC states. With an extensive
product line-up, Ford can accommodate individual fleet
requirements no matter the size of the fleet.
IN: In many of the markets in Africa, light commercial
vehicles are a dominant force and this will continue to
be the trend in the future. We are also currently looking
at opportunities to grow production volumes from South
Africa into new markets in Africa – with a key focus on the
light commercial vehicle segment. The sixth-generation
Isuzu pickup, which is assembled in both right- and
Light commercials make Operators are spoilt for choice Operators are spoilt for choice when choosing a light commercial when choosing a light commercial vehicle for their operations. vehicle for their operations. Simon FouldsSimon Foulds speaks to GWM, speaks to GWM, Ford, GMSA and Nissan to fi nd out Ford, GMSA and Nissan to fi nd out what we can expect from them what we can expect from them over the next few months and why over the next few months and why their vehicles are best suited to their vehicles are best suited to your business.your business.
Hannes Oosthuizen
Dawid van der Merwe
Ian Nicholls
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
13TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
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light workleft-hand-drive versions at our South African
production plant, forms an important part
of our growth plans on this continent. We
anticipate that this segment will grow in
the future as more African countries stabi-
lise and accelerate investments into infra-
structure and other areas of the economy.
Transport currently accounts for over 45% of
infrastructural investment (into roads, ports
and so on) on the continent. In South Africa,
we secured a 20% share of the overall light
commercial vehicle market in 2013 and hold
a similar share level this year.
VS: Yes, we are optimistic. The Nissan LCV
range is the most comprehensive in the
market starting with the NV200 half-tonne
pickup right through to the class-leading
Patrol pickup with a payload of 1 090 kg and
a towing capacity of 2 500 kg. Couple that
with the NP300 hardbody workhorses and
the tough and attractive Navara and there
is a pickup for every businessman or private
owner. The two vans, NV350 and NV200, are
extremely versatile as panel vans and come
in very comfortable people movers for the
hospitality and transport industry.
New technology for efficiencyHO: As with passenger cars, the focus
will increasingly be on smaller-capacity tur-
bocharged diesel engines. At present the
focus is on our 2.0 litre VGT power plant,
which features such green technologies as
exhaust gas recirculation, variable geometry
turbocharging and common-rail direct injec-
tion. It meets Euro IV emissions standards.
A six-speed manual transmission further
improves the fuel economy potential. Our
new ‘entry-level’ diesel engine will also be of
a 2.0 litre capacity.
DvM: Our Transit and Tourneo ranges
have impressive fuel efficiency, with com-
bined fuel consumption from as low as 7.0
litres/100 km and CO2 emissions of only
186 g/km. The vehicles also feature a shift
indicator, advising drivers when to change
gear for maximum fuel efficiency.
IN: The exterior styling of the new KB ben-
efits from extensive computer analysis of the
airflow around the vehicle supported by full-
scale wind tunnel testing to prove the theory
in practice. A key area of aerodynamic focus
was the airflow over the roof and load box of
the vehicle, a known critical area. On the new
KB, this critical airflow has been smoothed
to flow cleanly over the tailgate with reduced
drag. This has a positive impact on fuel
economy and performance while reducing
noise levels in the cab. As with the previous-
generation Isuzu KB, the sixth-generation KB
range is powered by a selection of the latest-
generation diesel and petrol engines.
VS: Our light commercial vehicle sport all the
latest safety technologies, class-leading fuel
consumption and DataDots come standard
on all Nissan vehicles.
Advice when purchasing new light commercial vehiclesHO: When it looks too good to be true, it
generally is. GWM is not the cheapest offer-
ing on the market and the closing price gap
is reflected in the high quality of the vehicles.
You may be able to find cheaper offerings,
but what about back-up and support?
DvM: Total cost of ownership is key when
considering a vehicle for your fleet. One
should consider the full service offering such
as comprehensive warranties like Ford’s
four-year/120 000 km fully comprehensive
manufacturer warranty and free three-year
AA assistance one gets with every Ford prod-
uct. Competitive pricing on maintenance,
service and collision parts will also assist in
lowered fleet costs. A national dealer network
is also important, ensuring fast and compre-
hensive support throughout our borders.
IN: Select a vehicle that is durable, reliable,
has a strong reputation and is backed by
outstanding levels of support both from a
sales and service perspective. The Isuzu
pickup offers this and more, including an
excellent residual value and an affordable
overall cost of ownership experience.
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
14 TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
FLEET MANAGEMENT
THE AIM OF THE programme is to assist
fleet owners in taking a holistic approach to
employee health and wellness, based on a
proven model.
Collaboration embodies the ethos of MBSA, as the com-
pany strives for the sustainability of the transport sector
in South Africa, with employee well-being being central
to this.
The Fleet Owner Workplace programme is essentially an
extension of the MBSA workplace wellness strategy that
has entrenched the health of the company’s employees
for over a decade, adding to the automotive giant’s ability
to achieve profitable growth and contribute to the socio-
economic success of the country.
MBSA’s leading role in this regard started in the
late 1990s in response to the debilitating effect of HIV
and Aids on productivity, and has since expanded in
focus to encompass health and wellness more holisti-
cally. This includes a focus on lifestyle ailments such as
cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic
respiratory diseases.
Dr Clifford Panter, manager for Health, Safety,
Compensation and Benefits at MBSA, says, “Our drive
for excellence translates into benchmark achievements
in the field of occupational health and safety. However,
pockets of excellence can never be sustainable. So, for
more than two decades now, we have made it a mission
to share the lessons we have learned around employee
health management with businesses and communities
around us. This is based on our first-hand experience of
the benefits of a healthy workforce to the sustainability of
our business.”
Examples of this mission are the Siyakhana and Trucking
Wellness projects that MBSA has supported as part of its
corporate social responsibility programme for many years.
The former lends workplace wellness support to small and
medium enterprises around MBSA’s production plant in
East London; the latter targets the road freight industry in
collaboration with partner CEP.
The concept for the Fleet Owner Workplace programme
came about as a result of MBSA’s involvement in the
Trucking Wellness project, an initiative of the National
Bargaining Council of the Road Freight and Logistics
Industry, which provides education and basic health care
services to truck drivers along the major freight routes in
Southern Africa. This includes dissemination of informa-
tion, testing and treatment
of HIV and Aids and other
lifestyle illnesses.
A need was identified
to provide a more holistic
approach to the manage-
ment of health and well-
ness by the fleet owners.
As a provider of transport
solutions to the freight
industry, MBSA is able to
support fleet customers
and their truck drivers with
additional benefits that will
enhance their profitability.
The quest for employee Bakers SA, a prominent transport logistics company in KwaZulu-Natal, became the fi rst fl eet company to complete the roll-out of the Fleet Owner Workplace programme designed by Mercedes-Benz South Africa and their corporate social responsibility partner, Corridor Empowerment Project (CEP). Simon FouldsSimon Foulds attended the launch of this event at Bakers SA’s head offi ce in Pietermaritzburg.
Bakers SA celebrated the signing of their Workplace Wellness policy with stakeholders involved in the Fleet Owner programme initiated by MBSA. (from left) Mpho Nkhumeleni, sales manager, Daimler Truck and Bus; Tersia Stroh, acting national secretary, National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry; Abdool Tayob, chief executive, Bakers SA; Shabir Tayob, director: marketing and logistics, Bakers SA; Mayur Bhana, divisional manager: group corporate affairs, Mercedes-Benz South Africa; Themba Mthombeni, operations director, Corridor Empowerment Project
KEY OUTCOMES OF THE FLEET OWNER WORKPLACE PROGRAMME:
• Increase understanding around, and reduce
the impact of, HIV and Aids and other
lifestyle diseases
• Increase capacity to prevent and
manage disease
• Benefi t employee health, life expectancy and
job retention
• Informating, educating and screening around
health issues
• Assist fl eet owners to develop, implement,
monitor and evaluate a sustainable
Workplace Wellness programme (including
the development of policies, systems
and processes)
15TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
FLEET MANAGEMENT
wellnessKobus van Zyl, MD of Daimler Trucks and Buses South
Africa, states, “South Africa’s trucking industry forms the
veins and arteries of the economic heart of this country,
pumping prosperity to our people. The accomplishments
of the trucking sector are also the success of Daimler
Trucks and Buses South Africa, as a flourishing com-
mercial vehicle supplier. We cannot disregard the varied
issues that affect the larger trucking community. Healthy,
skilled truck drivers are but one of the ideals we have
chosen to throw our weight behind as a corporate thought
leader. With our ongoing commitment to the sector, our
slogan, ‘Trucks you can trust’, is easy to translate into a
mantra for the industry, ‘Truckers you can trust’.”
MBSA also provides its commercial vehicle customer
base with dedicated driver training programmes that
equip truckers with product knowledge to enhance safety
and reduce the cost of vehicle ownership. The value-
add for MBSA clients does not end there, however, with
products such as the Fleetboard telematics systems and
Charterway fleet management services further reducing
the downtime of fleet vehicles.
Bakers SA, as the first MBSA client to implement the
Fleet Owner Workplace programme, shares the com-
pany’s commitment to employee well-being.
Abdool Tayob, chief executive of Bakers SA, says: “This
initiative forms one of the many components that testify
to the partnership relationship shared between Bakers SA
Limited and MBSA. Furthermore, this is a manifestation of
MBSA’s concern for the health of professional drivers that
operate their exceptional products.”
LEFT Shabir Tayob, director: marketing and logistics, Bakers SA (left) and Abdool Tayob, chief executive, Bakers SA (right), receive a certifi cate for participation in the Mercedes-Benz South Africa Fleet Owner Workplace Wellness programme from Mpho Nkhumeleni, sales manager, Daimler Truck and Buses SA
RIGHT Abdool Tayob, chief executive, Bakers SA (centre), is joined by Johan Opperman, Bakers SA National SHEQ Manager (left), and staff members from the Workplace Wellness Committee in signing the policy that now governs employee wellness in the company
16 TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
How critical is driver wellness within the transport and logistics sector?Driver wellness is crucial. If you have
a driver who is not well, this could
impact the fleet operator’s business.
How important is it to have a healthy driver behind the wheel of a truck and why?It is very important. If a driver is
unhealthy, they will not concentrate
and this will affect their ability to do
their job and perform at their best.
What are you doing to improve and increase driver wellness?At this stage, Volvo does not have
a formal programme for driver well-
ness, as most of the training is around
product knowledge. We are in the
process of improving our training pro-
gramme to include classroom-style
training with a focus on health and
first-aid training.
Is it important just for long-distance truck drivers, or also for inner-city truck drivers?It is important for any driver behind
the wheel of a truck.
What are the best ways to both educate the driver and transport operator on the importance of driver wellness?Fleet owners should have induc-
tion sessions for their drivers, which
should include a wellness programme
that reflects the benefits of living a
healthy lifestyle.
What part do you play in training drivers and why? At Volvo Trucks, we ensure that driv-
ers understand how to use our prod-
ucts efficiently so it can meet fleet
owners’ expected results.
At the vehicle handover, we have
highly informative basic driver train-
ing, which includes:
Driving core valuesSafety is one of Volvo’s core values. Simon FouldsSimon Foulds speaks to Philip Phasha, driver training manager at Volvo, about eliminating driver fatigue and safety.
Back left: Johannes Thabana, Solly Ncala, Timothy Sibisi, Gregory Makhudu, Rubik Stevens, Phillip Phasha, Hadley van Ster
From left: Alvin Naicker, Gareth Quiens, Solly Mampho, Zama Skosana
• defensive driving techniques
• fuel consumption
• safe load securing.
The vehicle’s handbook is custom-
ised to the chassis so the driver
knows all the vehicles’ intricacies.
We also offer Train the Trainer train-
ing should a big fleet company require
it. There we will cover:
• driver recruitment
• presentation skills
• driver incentive schemes
• how to deal with accident reporting
• vehicle pre-trip checks
• basic training with annual refresher
courses should the fleet company
require it.
What are the advantages to the company in doing this kind of training and, once completed, how often, if at all, are the drivers retrained?The advantages are that the com-
pany’s fleets will have a longer lifes-
pan. Training leads to sustainable
business and lower operation costs.
Volvo provides on-the-job training at
the handover of the vehicle. Once it
is completed, we have a refresher
course every two years at the fleet
owner’s request.
Although the training contributes
to personal development, the chal-
lenge is the high turnover of drivers in
the industry.
What advice would you give to a transport operator who wants to improve the wellness of their company’s drivers?Companies should revisit the working
conditions of the drivers, including
resting areas, and ensure that these
facilities are hygienic and safe to
use. They should make sure drivers
have balanced shifts and long hours
should be monitored. They should
also ensure that drivers go for routine
medical check-ups.
FLEET MANAGEMENT
17TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
ACKNOWLEDGING the
driver is critical because,
according to Taftman, the
driver is the most important
component in the transport machinery.
“It is not simply a case of just driving
a truck from point A to B. The driver
plays a critical role in ensuring the total
operating costs of the vehicle are kept
down to a minimum.
“The driver can influence up to 60%
of the truck’s total operating costs.
Therefore, with continuous train-
ing, the driver will have a positive
impact towards the bottom line of a
transport operation.”
Scania’s Driver of the Year compe-
tition takes place every second year
and this year’s one took place in five
regions within South Africa, as well as in
Namibia, Botswana and Tanzania.
“With this event, we want to put the focus on the driver,
giving him the publicity he so justly deserves.”
Total operating costsFor the 2014 competition Scania measured driving skills
and truck knowledge and brought total operating costs into
the equation.
“It is actually quite interesting when an operator looks
at the total operating costs as a pie chart, and sees how
much of it can be affected by the driver behind the wheel
of the truck. So, if you look after the driver and motivate
him, he can be a great return on investment for your
transport operation.
Educational event“Why have we done this as a competition? It is for the
excitement and adrenaline and simply because it is fun.”
The event started with qualifying theory tests in April
from where the regional finalists were selected to progress
through to the regional heats and finals. The top three
drivers from each region will compete in a national final in
Johannesburg during October.
Optimising customers operations“During this competition we mixed theory with practical
tests to choose the top 24 Scania drivers. Every driver
competing in this competition is
empowered to be a better driver
and that is what he takes back
to the company he works for.
“The whole point of the com-
petition is to teach the drivers how to be
a positive force within a company and
ensure they play a positive role in contain-
ing overall operating costs. Not all of the
drivers can win but each one learns how
to be a better driver. Plus, they also leave
with relevant information regarding their health and well-
ness – which is also a critical factor for every driver and
transport operator.”
Transport solution optimisationAnother key aspect of this event is empowering the driver
to be aware of what to look out for when doing a vehicle
and trailer inspection. “Every driver should do a pre-
inspection check before every trip, because they are then
able to point out to their managers if they see any potential
faults with the vehicle. This ensures less downtime due to
either a breakdown or an accident.
“During the competition we empower drivers on what
to look out for to ensure the truck they are going to drive
is safe use. This enables them to advise the owner or
maintenance department if there is a fault with the vehicle
between service intervals, ensuring minimal downtime.
“At the end of the day, this event ensures each and every
company whose drivers participated sees a better and
improved driver, which is a win-win situation for everyone,
including fellow road users.”
A great return on investmentAlexander Taftman, product and marketing director at Scania South Africa, tells Scania South Africa, tells Simon Foulds why Scania’s driver competition is benefi cial to everyone.to everyone.
ct and marketing director at ct and marketing director at mon Fouldsmon Foulds why why is benefi cial is benefi cial
We want to put the focus on the driver
PRIZESFirst place: R50 000 voucher for a big department store
Second place: R30 000 voucher
Third place: R15 000 voucher
Fourth and fi fth place: R5 000 voucher
The transport owner whose
driver wins the competition
gets a R250 000 discount
on the purchase of his next
Scania truck or the use of a
Scania rental truck for free for
six months.
FLEET MANAGEMENT
18 TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
FUEL
SHELL’S ONLINE TECHNOLOGY is help-
ing businesses tap into its expert technical
information to match the right lubricant to their
vehicles and equipment.
Originally designed for use by Shell’s own technical
staff, this information is now available to customers glob-
ally – giving them instant access to a vast bank of data
on engines, lubricants and oils, including the quantities
required and oil drain intervals.
The service is quick and easy to use: by simply logging
on to the Shell LubeMatch site, customers can select
the vehicle or equipment type and make or model from
an extensive database. This generates an instant report,
recommending the best lubricant to help that particular
equipment to run smoothly. The lubricant recommendation
can be printed out.
LubeMatch has been developed together with original
equipment manufacturers’ recommendations. LubeMatch
can be found for most types of vehicles and equipment
from cars, motorcycles and trucks to buses, vans, tractors,
heavy machinery and industrial equipment.
Built around a deep knowledge of the operation and
lubrication needs of heavy-duty diesel engines, Shell’s sci-
entists and engineers have developed a range of lubrica-
tion products using technology that adapts chemically and
physically to the changing conditions within the engine.
Finding the right lubricant at the touch of a buttonUsing the right lubricant not only protects and prolongs the life of vehicles and equipment, but can also help save on maintenance and fuel costs. By Raymond Abraham, commercial technical manager: Shell South AfricaBy Raymond Abraham, commercial technical manager: Shell South Africa
FUEL
19TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
Certain heavy-duty diesel engine oils can improve fuel
economy by reducing frictional and pumping losses. It is
crucial that the oils also provide the right level of protection to
avoid engine wear. Working in its laboratories and with lead-
ing companies and original equipment manufacturers, the
company has clearly demonstrated the benefits that high-
quality fuel economy oil can bring.
Shell Rimula heavy-duty diesel engine oils provide protec-
tion in three critical areas: acid control, deposit control and
wear control. Its adaptive technology also provides reduced
viscosity for improved fuel economy.
Quality lubricants are essential, as low-quality oils may
fail to protect vital components from combustion acids that
escape into the crankcase in the engine, leading to corrosion
that may cause catastrophic engine failure. Shell Rimula oils
contain powerful antioxidant agents that adapt chemically to
neutralise acids before they can damage the oil and engine.
Dirt in the engine – whether it’s piston deposits or crank-
case sludge – can also reduce its efficiency and increase
fuel costs. Shell Rimula diesel engine oils contain molecules
that adapt to remove and stop deposit-forming particles from
coming together to form sludge, to help keep engines clean
and protected.
Low-quality oils may fail to keep components apart, which
can cause hot spots, excessive wear and high mainte-
nance costs. Shell Rimula diesel engine oils have adaptive
molecules that are designed to protect the engine by react-
ing under heat and pressure to form a protective film that
helps to reduce wear.
This three-way protection has put Shell Rimula diesel
engine oils at the forefront of the development of lubricants
that enhance fuel economy and equipment protection in the
toughest conditions.
In another innovative move, the new Shell miGarage mobile
app allows customers to find the best lubricants for their vehi-
cle or equipment using Shell LubeMatch, with additional ben-
efits. The app makes it possible to email a recommendation
directly from a mobile device and access previous vehicle or
equipment searches with a ‘last searched’ func-
tionality. It also allows customers to save their
favourite vehicles or equipment to allow for
fast access to lubricant recommendations.
Customers can also keep up to date with all
the latest Shell Lubricants news, promo-
tions and product information and even
use their mobile device as a torch, using
the app’s built-in LED flash (available
for devices with camera flash only).
This is just another way Shell is using
technology to make it easier for its cus-
tomers across the globe to save on fuel
and maintenance costs.
THE AUTHORRAYMONDABRAHAM is Shell South Africa’s commercial techni-cal manager
20 TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
PAGE STRAP
FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN President, Nelson
Mandela, and the then President of Mozambique,
Joaquim Chissano, soundly established the
framework for the development of MCLI when
they jointly launched the Maputo Development Corridor at
an investment conference in Maputo in June 1996.
The launch of the Maputo Development Corridor (MDC)
came at a time of pressing economic growth imperatives
from a Mozambican economy ravaged by 15 years of civil
war and a newly liberated South Africa emerging from
decades of economic isolation. The MDC emerged as
the response to these imperatives and aimed to stimulate
regional cooperation and economic integration by restoring
the traditional trade route linking South Africa’s landlocked
northern provinces of Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga
to their nearest port in the Mozambique capital of Maputo.
The port had suffered a sharp decline during the civil war
and was in dire need of rehabilitation.
The Maputo Development Corridor had four key objectives:
• rehabilitating the primary infrastructure network along the
corridor, including road and rail links between South Africa
and Maputo, the border post and the port of Maputo
• maximising investment in the potential of the corridor area
and in added opportunities that infrastructure rehabilita-
tion would create
• maximising the social development and employment
opportunities on the corridor and increasing participation
of historically disadvantaged communities
• ensuring sustainability by developing policy, strategies
and frameworks that ensure holistic, participatory and
environmentally sustainable approaches to development.
In line with the SDI framework, which was to rehabilitate and
re-establish the traditional trade route between South Africa
A decade of partnered progress on the Maputo CorridorIn February 2004, MCLI issued its fi rst formal press release. Within, it explained that a In February 2004, MCLI issued its fi rst formal press release. Within, it explained that a “new private sector group has taken a bold initiative to promote the Maputo Corridor as “new private sector group has taken a bold initiative to promote the Maputo Corridor as a fi rst choice transportation route linking South Africa’s landlocked northern provinces a fi rst choice transportation route linking South Africa’s landlocked northern provinces and neighbouring states to world markets.”and neighbouring states to world markets.”
CORRIDORS
Address: 18 Escombe Ave, Parktown, 2193
Tel: +27 (0)11 482 5721
PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE MCLI
Cell: +27 (0)83 631 3316
Email: [email protected]
CORRIDORS
21TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
and Mozambique, which had been destroyed during the
17 year civil war in Mozambique and during the isolation of
South Africa during the apartheid years, the MDC became
the foundation for the work of MCLI.
With an initial investment in rehabilitation of basic infra-
structure in Port Maputo and the completion of the N4 toll
road from Gauteng to Maputo, the environment was per-
fectly poised for trade to begin to return to this traditional
route from Gauteng. It was a meeting of stakeholders that
were gathered at short notice from all across the corridor
that began this initiative and which resulted in the develop-
ment of an organisation that has reached its 10-year mark
and has taken its model to 29 countries around the world.
In the first meeting at City Deep Terminal in August 2003,
and a similar meeting in Nelspruit in early September 2003,
stakeholders from Mozambique and South Africa, from both
the public and private sector, identified the opportunities
and constraints impacting on the use of Port Maputo, the
terminals, the road and the railway line. The key issues that
were identified were:
• negative perceptions about Port Maputo
• no container lines calling the port
• lack of rail service on the corridor
• limited border operating hours
• congestion and delays
• lack of an institutional framework on the corridor.
It was these issues that were the core reason for MCLI’s
establishment and, added to the mandate of these first
stakeholder meetings, was sufficient for the infrastructure
investors, cargo owners, and service providers to commit
to setting up an organisation to deal with these constraints.
At MCLI’s inception in 2004, there were initially eight
founder members. These eight companies saw and acted
on the need for a coordinated effort on behalf of the busi-
ness sector to present to government the requirements for
sustained investment into the MDC. A joint effort was under-
taken by these organisations to expand their individual
focus into a synergistic effort for the greater good of all par-
ties. These companies do indeed represent a cross section
of key players, either along the MDC or in their particular
industry sectors in the region.
It was recognised from the outset that in order for the Initiative
to be successful, the public sector needed to be represented
on the MCLI board. The South African National Department
of Transport, seeking to roll out its National
Freight Logistics Strategy in the prov-
ince, through the Mpumalanga Provincial
Department of Roads and Transport, recog-
nised the institutional framework for public-
private consultation that had already been
built in the province by MCLI and joined as
a foundation member.
The Maputo Port Development Company,
Mozambique International Port Services
(the container terminal), TSB (Transvaal
Sugar), Manganese Metal Company,
Maputo Fresh Produce Terminal, Matola
Coal Terminal, Trans Africa Logistics, Trans
African Concessions, with the expert guid-
ance of Brenda Horne, on secondment from the then BHP
Billiton-owned Manganese Metal Company, stepped in to
fund a small office and operational team to support Horne.
The organisation’s vision was and still is, to coordinate cor-
ridor stakeholders to become the ‘go to’ organisation on the
Maputo Corridor by creating a cost-effective, continuous,
reliable logistics route, creating an enabling environment for
further investment and development and ensuring positive
returns for all stakeholders.
With the indomitable passion, energy and commitment
of Horne to the MCLI vision, and a clear mission to partner
with all stakeholders to create a sustainable, highly efficient
transportation route, an increasingly favourable climate
MCLI’s success has been its advocacy and lobbying to ensure improvements in the freight logistics environment on the corridor
23TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
for investment and new opportunities for the communities
are being created along the corridor. These objectives are
encapsulated in what has become the slogan of the organi-
sation “Working together to make the Maputo Corridor the
first choice for the region’s stakeholders.”
MCLI’s greatest success has been its advocacy and lob-
bying role to ensure improvements in the freight logistics
environment on the corridor. This, with the considerable
mandate of its private sector members, has been crucial to
ensuring that. More importantly, MCLI has been extremely
successful in bringing together a range of public and private
sector stakeholders on the corridor. In MCLI’s 10-year his-
tory, it has continued to work with key departments on the
corridor, namely customs in the form of Alfandegas and the
South African Revenue Service, as well as the departments
of transport of the three corridor countries of Mozambique,
South Africa and Swaziland.
Alongside these issues, the high visibility of the organi-
sation in the freight and logistics sector has ensured that
networking and working groups of the organisation are
populated by stakeholders from every sector of services
on the supply chain. It has been enormously successful
in establishing an interface and platform for engagement
between the government and private sector to the highest
level in both sectors and is acknowledged in Africa as a
model for corridor institutional frameworks and partnerships
between public and private sector. The wealth of industry
knowledge and expertise in the board of directors, and the
strong membership base has given MCLI the credibility
and credence required to ensure that the corridor is kept
top of mind.
This communication and engagement
has ensured that there has been a con-
tinuous stream of communication to stake-
holders on the corridor. Constraints on the
corridor have been addressed through
direct engagement with all stakeholders
in a working group environment. MCLI’s
lobbying has also resulted in the extension
of border operating hours in 2007, and the
engagement with border authorities has
ensured 24-hour operations for the fes-
tive period – something MCLI profoundly
hopes to see extending into standard
operation.
In real terms, the increased tonnages
through Port Maputo, from 4 million tonnes in 2003 to a pro-
jected 20 million tonnes at the end of 2014, are testimony to
the success of the marketing mandate given to MCLI in its
early years. The impact of the road infrastructure on the eco-
nomic growth of the region has been substantial, and has
been the single biggest factor in ensuring the sustainability
of the corridor. While the completion of the rail rehabilitation
in 2008 was another key milestone, rail services continue to
be challenged; mostly by the pricing structure of services
by Transnet Freight Rail, which challenges the movement
of bulk commodities to the port. The implementation of
Transnet’s road-to-rail strategy is imperative if the transport
infrastructure on the corridor is to be retained at sufficiently
high levels, and in order to ensure the future competitive-
ness and cost-effectiveness of the Maputo Corridor.
The recipe behind the success and how MCLI achieved
CORRIDORS
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the sustainability of this collaborative mechanism lies, according
to MCLI CEO Barbara Mommen, in the passionate leadership
and active secretariat and committed board of directors, and an
institutional framework with the right mix of partners is crucial.
“Everything hinges on the quality of the relationships built through
the supply chain.” Beyond that, though, the active support of
members and stakeholders behind the early framework created
by the first Premier of Mpumalanga, Dr Mathews Phosa, and
by former presidents Chissano and Mandela, have helped to
develop a sound framework for ongoing political will in the region.
The challenges remaining on the corridor are largely focused
around the border facility and systems. It is the challenging dis-
connect between the excellent political will at executive level and
the lack of capacity for implementation at administrative level that
is no more evident than in the current status of the Lebombo/
Ressano Garcia border post.
The years of delay in implementing the mandated one-stop bor-
der post remain unfathomable. While the customs modernisation
programmes of the South African Revenue Service and the Single
Electronic Window implemented by Alfandegas in Mozambique
in September 2012 have been instrumental in speeding customs
clearing at the border post, the congestion and delays that afflict
the border post between 00:00 and 08:00 the following morning
are costing the region dearly.
In all of this, though, the Maputo Corridor is one of Africa’s suc-
cess stories in terms of regional integration between the three
corridor countries of Swaziland, southern Mozambique and the
Mpumalanga and Gauteng provinces of South Africa. In this case,
the infrastructure investment has paid huge dividends in support-
ing the regional integration imperatives of the SADC region. The
imperatives for regional integration have been long hailed as a
necessity for Africa’s ability to compete globally and to ensure
that African economies develop towards deeper and more sus-
tainable industrialisation. The Maputo Corridor has proved that
without infrastructure and continued investment in improvements,
and without a driving force in the form of a corridor institution
steering communication, information and the coordination of
efforts, regional integration does not happen.
MCLI faces considerable challenges in the coming years as it
positions itself in a shrinking economic scenario in South Africa,
and as the challenges for relevance in a changing environment
make the sustainability of the organisation a continuous balanc-
ing act. It is inevitable that MCLI will have to move towards a
service-oriented organisation and this is something that is already
being planned.
EDITORIAL COMMENT
By Barbara Mommon, CEO MCLI
It is a great privilege to be part of this dynamic organisa-tion that is MCLI and as we celebrate our 10th year of op-eration, I am acutely aware of the enormous contributions made by the many role players who have been instrumen-tal in driving the establishment and continued functioning of MCLI since its inception. It has truly been a partnership of effort between stakeholders across all sectors on the
corridor and has established a great legacy to those who were instrumental in its establishment. It is the partnerships that have given credence, credibility and impetus to MCLI’s work and continue to be crucial to everything that we do.
As we look at how much the corridor activities have grown in what is essentially a very short time, we cannot help but feel indebted to those individuals who put muscle behind their ideas and dreams, and made MCLI a reality. We have highlighted some of these very important personalities in this publication.
Looking ahead, the challenges are in some ways very different to those of 2004. The incredible changes that have happened over this 10-year period bode well for the next decade. We look forward to continuing to narrow the gap between public sector service providers and the private sector role players and, in so doing, we keep the vision of an effi cient, effective and reliable trans-portation route at the top of our minds. There is much work still to be done. The border post remains the biggest area of focus. Although I believe we are closer than ever to the implementation of a 24-hour one-stop border post at Lebombo/Ressano Garcia, it remains the single biggest issue hampering trade and economic development in the region. Nonetheless, I am confi dent that we will see some positive developments in this regard, as the level of planning, discussion and activity around its implementation slowly gather momentum.
CORRIDORS
24 TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
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25TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
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27TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
WAREHOUSING
LOOKING AT THE latest trends in improving the
movement and control of goods in a warehouse,
Bailey says companies are relying more and
more on better systems.
“This includes systems such as better scanning, voice
systems, and various technologies to improve efficien-
cy and productivity. Increased levels of mechanisation
give you better efficiency, better accuracy and faster
response.”Regarding the latest trends in the design of
warehouses, Bailey states there are increased levels of
automation as labour becomes more expensive, less effi-
cient and more difficult to control. He adds that automa-
tion is becoming cheaper.
“Automation also significantly improves security, speed,
accuracy and reliability. At the same time, it reduces the
reliance on ERP systems because it needs its own soft-
ware when doing detailed warehouse picking. You see the
warehouse of the future having higher levels of automa-
tion, especially with a rapidly declining labour efficiency.”
LifespanAn important aspect is ensuring the warehouse can be
utilised efficiently over at least the next five to ten years.
“Ensure the warehouse integrates with a total business
plan and into a logical supply chain philosophy. If the
facility is compatible with the rest of the business objec-
tives, problems tend to be minimised. In many cases,
the warehouse is the ‘stepchild’ of the business, receiv-
ing little investment into appropriate resources. When
an investment into the warehouse is well focused on
the actual business needs then a warehouse opera-
tion has a sustainable shelf life.”
LocationA vital aspect is location. “It significantly affects
transport costs and transport is usually the
largest cost contributor to the supply chain,
and being close to the customer significantly
improves service.”
PickingAchieving the most cost-effective, accurate
and productive picking technique and tech-
nology is, according to Bailey, probably the
most difficult, yet important, component of
many designs.
“There are a multitude of different options available
and the blend of the best technology and related IT sys-
tems is vital to ensuring the total operation is optimised.
It needs to be well researched and well thought out
before choosing the technology and system suited to the
warehouse specifications.”
Designing flexibilityDesigning a warehouse with the flexibility of handling an
unpredictable future, at the same time minimising your
cost-to-serve, is not an off-the-shelf product.
“It is almost impossible to have infinite flexibility and, at
the same time, great efficiency. Usually, as you mechanise
processes, you improve efficiency but reduce flexibility.
So what is more important? If your business is stable for
the long term, throw flexibility out of the window. If your
business is highly variable, you live with the inefficien-
cies of flexibility. A 3PL, third-party logistics provider, will
typically focus on flexibility, as most contracts are for three
years; whereas an owner-operator will typically plan for a
10- year horizon.”
Inventory movement and controlDesign is the fundamental component of the entire warehouse operation, according to Martin Bailey, chairman of Industrial Logistic Systems. He tells Simon FouldsSimon Foulds what key elements are involved in operating an effi cient warehouse.
Martin Bailey
28 TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
SUPPLY CHAIN LOGISTICS
BY DOING SO, these organisations are creat-
ing and adopting innovative business models.
This was one of the key messages from Frost
& Sullivan’s GIL 2014: Africa – The Global
Community of Growth, Innovation and Leadership annual
congress. Simon Foulds conversed with industry leaders in
attendance at the Cape Town event.
One of the key events at this congress was the CEO
panel: ‘Gateway to Africa’, which provided valuable insights
on South Africa’s future role in channelling investment into
the continent. On the panel were Charles Brewer of DHL
Express, Sunil Joshi of Neotel, Gert Schoonbee of T-Systems
and Chris Whelan of Accelerate Cape Town. The panel was
moderated by Hendrick Malan, operations director, Africa:
Frost & Sullivan.
Investment appealMalan says, “Until recently, South Africa was viewed as the
growth area in Africa as well as the gateway to the continent.
We have lost the status as the largest economy in Africa. As
a company facilitating companies coming into Africa, Frost &
Sullivan has seen a change. Whereas in the past companies
came to South Africa first and then headed north, they are
now moving directly either to West or East Africa. Companies
are by-passing us and the country is being left out of this criti-
cal part of the game. If it continues like this, we run the risk of
eventually missing out on playing a crucial part of the African
renaissance. Has the country lost its appeal, and why?”
Brewer adds, “South Africa was the gateway into Africa
because historically, from a logistics point of view, companies
had no choice and, irrespective where you were coming
from in the world, to enter Africa you had no choice but to
do so through South Africa. There was only one decent point
of entry into the continent and South Africa was that point
of access.
“Cape Town and Durban are doing a fantastic job of brand-
ing themselves from a tourism point of view but a terrible
job in terms of branding itself in terms of great places to
do business.
“Another real problem is that you cannot get visas or inter-
company visas. If you want to attract business to South
Africa, you have to make it easy. Every year we produce a
‘connectiveness report’ that compares 108 countries. One
of the aspects we look at is how easy it is to move trade,
people, finance, communication and information through the
respective countries.
“Why does Singapore beat Malaysia? Why is Dubai bet-
ter than Bahrain or Saudi Arabia? Why are the UK, France
and Poland preferable to the emerging Eastern European
countries? It is because they all recognise that the easier it is
to do business, the more likely that companies will establish
operations there.”
Whelan states, “What’s interesting for me is looking at
trends. I believe South Africa is still in a very strong position
now but I am not wildly happy about the direction we are trav-
elling in. Charles makes the point about connectiveness and
there are a few things that you have got to get right. South
Africa’s National Development Plan speaks about some of
the opportunities, but South Africa has some immense chal-
lenges that need to be addressed. I do not think we have
lost it but we do need to very quickly
pull our socks up and undergo a more
collaborative approach between gov-
ernment and business because, at the
moment, we seem to not want to talk
to one another.”
Mother company investmentsMalan asks, “How difficult is it to obtain
finance from overseas head offices to
expand operations in South Africa and
the rest of the continent?” Schoonbee
answers, “Germany does not discrimi-
nate against Africa as a continent. So
when we compete for capital against
other countries it is not a competition
against the various countries them-
selves – rather it is a competition of
good business fundamentals. That is
why the growth of the country is so
Fast-tracking growth Innovation is no longer an option, but rather a necessity. Companies that are on top of market changes maintain their competitive advantage.
From the left – Hendrick Malan, operations director, Africa: Frost & Sullivan; Chris Whelan of Accelerate Cape Town; Charles Brewer of DHL Express; Gert Schoonbee of T-Systems and Sunil Joshi of Neotel
29TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
SUPPLY CHAIN LOGISTICS
in Africaimportant because if the country is not growing then our busi-
ness cases are under threat.
“We have always had excellent support from our global
CEO who is really supportive of us in South Africa and within
the continent. As long as we have a good business model,
they give us all the investment that we need.”
Gateway to AfricaMalan goes on to ask, “What makes a great gateway into
Africa? Does South Africa still rank high on the continent?”
Joshi states, “South Africa has a great system. Though
we have our challenges and the country is a 20-year-old
democracy that is going through growth pains like many
other countries, it has huge potential. In order for us to grow,
a shift towards domestic consumption is going to be impor-
tant for us. That is going to drive really big growth for our
own country regardless of what happens around us. Look
at the export market and the way the rand/dollar exchange
rate has gone south is actually a blessing in disguise. We
need to take advantage of it and if we do, we will actually be
able to export a lot more goods because then we are a lot
more competitive.
“One thing we cannot ignore is that we are competing
against the aggressive Chinese, along with the innovative
Indians, Brazilians and Russians. There, productivity rather
than innovation is the name of the game. They do not sleep,
we get to take our weekends off, and that is the shift in our
own mindset that we have to get through as individuals, irre-
spective of what part of the operating environment, political
or otherwise, we operate in.
“There is a shift needed. This has to take place in all states
of competitiveness. We are a competitive nation and in order
to take what is rightfully ours into the global market place,
we need to be better than the rest. If we are, then we are the
gateway into Africa.”
Value proposition for SAMalan asks, “If you had to treat South Africa like your compa-
ny, if you were the CEO of South Africa, what would your value
propositions be that you take to the international market?”
Says Joshi, “For me it would be as a service differen-
tiator, because we are leaders in the design industry and
service sectors. Innovation starts in South Africa and then
goes north.”
Schoonbee says, “I would say it starts with our people.
South Africa as a country has an incredible richness of diver-
sity with moments of brilliance where we outperform the rest
of the world. I think the biggest problem we have is that we
do not believe this.”
Brewer continues, “People, stability, capability and infra-
structure are our strengths. All other places in Africa are
tough places: Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania and so on. If you are
a new business visitor coming into Africa and you choose
Lagos, Nigeria, as your first destination, then be prepared
for a whole different world. If we work out who we want to be,
then my tagline would be ‘South Africa – it’s a great place
to start’.”
Whelan concludes, “A few years back, I met a business-
man from Singapore who described his country as ‘China
Light’, which might sound a little bit offensive to lot of people;
but Charles’s point is right: South Africa is a great place to
start – why not base yourself here? We are a knowledge-
dense, service-oriented economy and we need to play to our
strengths, drive it and be relentless.”
Africa’s top industry performers were acclaimed at Frost & Sullivan’s infl uential awards banquet held in Cape Town during August.
Thriving in the current business environment requires an approach that is visionary and incorporates innovation and game-changing strategies. Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practice awards, based on a rigorous selection methodology, highlight the achievements of market-leading companies that deliver excellence and best practices in their respective industries.
Delivering the welcome speech and keynote address, Hendrik Malan, operations director for Frost & Sullivan Africa, noted: “The Frost & Sullivan Best Practice awards programme acknowledges exceptional industry achievements. The selected awardees have demonstrated innovation, competitiveness and leadership in meeting the particular demands of doing business in Africa.”
A total of 23 awardees were drawn from diverse sectors, including information and communication, chemicals and materials, energy, transportation, healthcare and fi nance. The ICT sector was strongly represented by Mi-Fone, T-Systems, ZTE, Intersec, Global Voice Group, Skyvision, Mahindra Comviva, Djibouti Data Center, EOH Cloud Services, Xlink, IBM, Health Window and Orange.
Recipients were honoured for categories such as enabling technology, technology innovation, customer value enhancement, competitive strategy leadership, outstanding entrepreneurial spirit and vertical market penetration.
RECOGNISING COMPANIES IN AFRICA
DHL Express: Charles Brewer (managing director), Sumesh Rahavendra (head of marketing)
Sasol: Dr Thulani Dlamini (manager: research & development), Henrik Malan (operations director for Africa, Frost & Sullivan)
Barloworld Logistics: Liesl De Wet (senior manager: sustainability), Henrik Malan (operations director for Africa, Frost & Sullivan)
T-Systems: Gert Schoonbee (managing director), Henrik Malan (operations director for Africa, Frost & Sullivan)
30 TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
SUPPLY CHAIN LOGISTICS
ALIGNED WITH, and designed around, clients’
needs, it is fitting that Imperial’s unrivalled
approach to Africa started with discussions
with clients, according to Imperial’s Africa divi-
sion CEO, Dougie Truter. “It was sparked by dialogues with
leading multinationals aiming to benefit from the consum-
erisation of Africa,” he reveals. “Through conversations at
the highest level – with manufacturers and brand owners
in the pharmaceutical, FMCG and general retail sectors
– Imperial’s Africa strategy was conceived, with regional
cluster thinking as one of its cornerstones.”
The International Monetary Fund predicts that no conti-
nent will grow more strongly than Africa over the coming
years, while McKinsey and Company statistics reveal that
the region’s consumer-facing industries are expected to
grow by over $400 billion by 2020. It is for these reasons
that global companies are increasingly setting their sights
on Africa. “Along with the opportunities, however, come
challenges and risks,” Truter cautions. “There is no ‘one
size fits all’ approach to the African consumer or the
African market. Distinct consumer segments exist, with
significant variation by country. The legal systems are as
varied as the languages spoken. Cash presents risks and
challenges. The complexity of doing business in Africa
cannot be overemphasised,” he stresses,
and cites the example of a multinational
aiming to grow in Africa, but having to deal
with hundreds of small distributors spread
across a host of countries, and expect-
ing from them the same governance and
control as they would have with a large,
world-class distributor.
The aim of Imperial’s approach, Truter
states, is to minimise the risks and com-
plexities for clients seeking to enter or grow
in the African market; to simplify business
in Africa for them, and offer a single point
of contact that can deliver world-class
service, standards, governance and con-
trol. The group is doing this by offering a
total, end-to-end value proposition that is summed up in
its catchphrase: “Get you there; sell your product; build
your brand.” It is a strategy that is built on the foundation of
Imperial’s understanding of the dynamic and ever-expand-
ing demands of the African consumer, as well as knowledge
and experience – built up over more than 40 years – of the
continent’s challenges.
Outlining the evolution of Imperial’s Africa strategy, Truter
notes that it began with transport companies in South Africa
that offered cross-border services. From this more tradition-
al transport-based service, Imperial expanded its service
offering with distributor capabilities, in order to meet clients’
selling needs. “We moved into Africa’s consumer market
with the acquisition of CIC Holdings, through which we are
now operating extensively within the FMCG industry, with a
service offering that includes distributorships, merchandis-
ing, warehousing, distribution, debtors’ administration and
staffing solutions.”
Imperial entered the pharmaceutical space with the acqui-
sition of Imperial Health Sciences – which is one of Africa’s
leading pharmaceutical and healthcare supply chain service
providers, specialising in multichannel solutions for deliver-
ing essential medicines, and consumer health products in
South Africa, to Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia,
Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda,
Zimbabwe, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria.
Today, Imperial is the only company that can take prod-
ucts from manufacturing to the point of purchase in both a
Southern African and pan-African context.
‘Build your brand’ refers to the group’s brand activation
services – to its unique ability to ‘pull’ products through
the value chain to the consumer. The latest development in
this space is Imperial’s acquisition of mobile firm Resolve
Mobile. On a continent where mobile is the primary mass
communication source, and cell phone advertising and
marketing is set to grow rapidly, it’s a significant move,
Truter notes, adding that Imperial has plans to leverage its
mobile capability to offer clients digital marketing opportuni-
ties. These would be supported on the ground. In addition,
the group is exploring brand-building avenues for clients,
which include mobile promotions with rewards of airtime or
vouchers for brand-loyal consumers. “This is more acces-
sible for African consumers and less risky than cash dis-
counts,” he explains. Notably, it is an effective mechanism
to build brand, rather than retailer, loyalty.
Imperial is also adding significant value to clients’ brands
through its ‘feet on the ground’, Truter states, and explains
the phrase: “This refers to Imperial’s ability to give brand
owners access to consumers via ‘feet on the ground’,
specifically through our people in-country who are talking
directly to consumers.”
In addition to benefiting its clients, this approach is ena-
bling Imperial to contribute to job creation, training and
skills development across Africa. “Our strategy is about
Enabling African growth and expansionImperial is rolling out a unique strategy, enabling clients’ African growth and expansion while minimising their risks and the continent’s complexities.
Our strategy is about working with, and for, Africa. We will uplift and upskill people in the countries in which we operate Dougie Truter,
Imperial’s Africa division CEO
31TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
SUPPLY CHAIN LOGISTICS
working with, and for, Africa. Training is critical, particularly
in-country training. We will uplift and upskill people in the
countries in which we operate. Our businesses in these
countries will be ‘Africanised’; they will have support from
and report to South Africa, but they must manage them-
selves.” Imperial Health Sciences’ Supply Chain Academy,
which has become one of Africa’s leading providers of
training and development for people working in the public
health supply chain, reflects Imperial’s commitment to skills
development in Africa. It offers programmes – including
in-country training – from basic to postgraduate level, to
ensure that the supply chain is given the focus it warrants in
the healthcare sector in developing countries.
Imperial’s pan-African strategy focuses on Nigeria and
Ghana in West Africa and on eight East African countries
– namely Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi,
Ethiopia, South Sudan and Somalia. Truter elaborates:
“In East Africa, Kenya is our operations base, since many
multinationals have African head offices and manufactur-
ing facilities there. In addition to this, its Port of Mombasa
is a gateway to East Africa. In West Africa, our focus is on
acquiring good infrastructure.”
Imperial’s acquisition of Nigerian logistics company MDS
gave the group instant 3PL (third party logistics) capability
in Nigeria and Ghana. Truter stresses, however, that acqui-
sitions are just one element of the organisation’s approach
to building its capabilities in Africa and customising its
experience in outsourced value chain management in order
to drive clients’ competiveness. “Our strategy is to lever-
age, partner and acquire, and not necessarily in that order,”
he explains. “Imperial will leverage its existing experience,
expertise, resources, capabilities and geographic foot-
prints. Where we need to build on this, we will partner with
other organisations to meet our clients’ needs, or we will
acquire the necessary capability.”
While the group may not actually acquire physical assets,
he says that clients can rest assured that Imperial’s African
partners will be ‘Imperial Enabled’. The term – which the
organisation has trademarked – refers to partners, sub-
contractors and suppliers having the training and expertise
to offer clients the same level of service they could expect
from Imperial.
With clients like GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson,
Procter & Gamble, Bayer, AstraZeneca, Pfizer and South
African manufacturer Tiger Brands already benefiting from
Imperial’s Africa strategy, Truter’s assertion that it has been
an ‘easy sell’ is well founded. “This is a journey that began
with our clients’ needs; it is a journey that we
are taking with and for our clients. While the
path is constantly being refined and built on,
the support we have garnered makes it clear
that Imperial is on the right track as we strive to
enable our clients to unlock the full potential of
Africa,” he concludes. www.imperiallogistics.co.za
Local expertise and assets enable growth for clients in the African consumer market
Future-proofing ourclients supply chains
www.barloworld-logistics.com
To see how our smart supply chain solutions can improve your triple bottom line, call Mike Fanucchi 011 445 1600.
A B
At Barloworld Logistics, we go to great lengths to design, implement, operate and manage smart supply chain solutions.
Smart stands for sustainable, measurable, adaptable, resourceful and transformational solutions.
With innovative software and cutting edge technology we’re able to track, monitor and measure the impact on the environment at every turn.
Simply put, ethical, economical and environmentally friendly solutions. Solutions that reduce costs, increase efficiencies and improve carbon footprints.
While world-class corporate governance and global best practices ensure we create a sustainable future for our clients’ business as well as our own.
Our culture of operational excellence enable us to find new ways to minimise waste while maximising productivity, profitability and performance.
33TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
THE ABILITY TO MANAGE and adapt to change
is an essential competency that all firms need
today. Alan Milliken, senior manager on the Supply
Chain Capability Development Team at BASF in the
USA, talks to Simon Foulds about managing the change.
In general, change management is the process of transi-
tioning individuals or an organisation to a desired future state.
In supply chains, most organisation change is driven by
external innovations and the need to keep pace in a highly
competitive environment. Firms who have succeeded in inte-
grating adaptation to change across the organisation will find
it easier to effect and control changes in policies, procedures
and tools in supply chain management.
Failing to effect changeMany supply chain improvement efforts fail to achieve the
stated objectives and ensure changes are sustained going
forward. Change management is important in enabling a sus-
tainable competitive advantage via improvement initiatives.
From a supply change improvement perspective, change
management is the process, tools and techniques required
to manage people through the planned change in a way to
assure the effort results in the desired business outcome and
a change in the organisational culture to ensure sustainability
of the improvements.
Selecting the process to changeThe process should start with a systematic diagnosis of the
current process. This evaluation makes the need for change
clear to all stakeholders. However, the business must also
determine if it has the capabilities required to implement the
change. Concentrate first on the changes that are expected
to provide the most benefit.
Developing the vision and planA vision for the change mission is needed: e.g. provide
company-wide demand planning process excellence through
the implementation of best practices enabled by the latest
advanced planning software. Goals must also be clear: e.g.
increase on-time delivery performance, reduce production and
distribution costs, and reduce inventory. Elements that can be
quantified (e.g. increasing on-time delivery performance from
90% to 95%) as well as elements that can be difficult to quan-
tify (e.g. improving teamwork between sales, marketing and
production) should be included as benefits.
The work plan should include key change management
components, such as education/training and
performance management. Improvement pro-
jects often fail to deliver the desired results
because these components are either omitted
or are not properly planned and resourced.
The education and training component must
address all stakeholders and competencies
within the organisation.
In supply chain management, some generic
competencies such as collaboration, teamwork
and communications are very important, and
separate training classes may be necessary to
ensure success when improving cross-func-
tional processes. At the very least, the relation-
ship between such generic skills and success-
fully integrated processes must be addressed
in the change management process.
People in the change management processThe key components of success in any busi-
ness are people, processes, and technology.
If we view things from the perspective of these
Managing change in supply chain evolutionGlobalisation of the economy and rapidly advancing technology have accelerated change in the business environment. Technology makes it possible to communicate more eff ectively in support of change.
SUPPLY CHAIN LOGISTICS
34 TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
SUPPLY CHAIN LOGISTICS
three components, we can determine to a large extent wheth-
er or not we will succeed with improvements. For example,
let’s assume we program our demand planning system to
provide better decision-making support, and we design an
improved process that requires key stakeholders to review
and use the new reports.
One can see the bottom-line benefits resulting from this
change. But people are resistant to change, with the biggest
issues being: “We have always done it this way,” and “What’s
in it for me?” Therefore, the change management process
must align expectations, communicate the need for change,
and provide education and training to support the transition.
Leadership’s roleTo successfully implement a change, we must first educate
leaders and gain their commitment to, and support for, it.
Simply approving a spending plan is not sufficient commit-
ment and leaders must communicate why the change is
needed, and what the expected benefits are. They need to
champion the effort.
A key function of leadership is to relate the need for
change directly to the business value proposition. For
example, if the change objective is to improve the demand
planning business, leadership must relate this objective to
the benefits that are expected in terms of revenues and
profits. One way they can do this is to relate more accurate
demand forecasts to improved service, costs and inventory.
Leadership must understand and communicate the idea
that improved demand planning helps sustain and increase
revenues through customer satisfaction. Improved demand
planning results in lower production costs and decreases
distribution costs.
A more accurate demand plan enables the business to
operate with lower inventories. In nutshell, leadership must
effectively communicate the need for change to all stake-
holders and counter resistance to change by aligning the
objectives of the change project with the overall strategies
of the firm.
Keys to successful change managementFrom a macro perspective, two things occur when we do not
manage change well. First, we do not receive the expected
return on investment for the efforts we put in. Second, with-
out a change management process, the benefits we receive
from a change are short-lived because as soon as the focus
is removed, people tend to revert back to the old ways of
doing things.
Therefore, to better manage change and ensure sustain-
able improvement, we must first understand why improve-
ment efforts fail to produce desired results and then act to
integrate change management into all supply chain improve-
ment projects.
Alan Milliken, senior manager on the Supply Chain Capability Development Team at BASF
35TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
ACCORDING TO RESEARCH by Ecobank, a
Togo-based bank, only 12% of African countries
trade with each other. By comparison, 60% of
Europe’s trade is within its own continent and
the figure is around 40% in North America.
Emmanual Chaves, CEO of Mozambique Airports, at the
recent North-South Corridor Development: China-Africa
Cooperation Forum, urged SADC to take the North-South
Corridor’s development on as a regional challenge.
Chaves said, “Countries like Malawi, Zambia, and
Zimbabwe will be well served with alternatives to taking their
products out of the continent through maritime and railway
transport and I encourage the region to focus on the project
because Africa should not have to wait for long to have the
corridor operational, so that we can give more options to
landlocked countries.”
The North-South Corridor, which South Africa has been
charged with championing as part of the Presidential
Infrastructure Championing Initiative, was introduced to
address this very issue. Eight of Africa’s 52 states are cur-
rently linked to the project, with clear aims of expanding the
project all the way to Cairo.
Ofentse Sibetlo, DTI’s deputy director of economic infra-
structure and logistics, states, “The greatest challenge for
the continent was around infrastructure development and
that while the eight African countries linked to the North-
South Corridor were glaringly different, they shared similar
core issues around underdeveloped infrastructure. Of the
19 projects identified, 7 have been classified as priority pro-
jects,” according to Sibetlo. These include Dar es Salaam,
Durban port developments in South Africa, Harare Beit
Bridge and Mozambique, among others.
“One of the greatest challenges is the issue of alignment
between each state. When we do site visits at Beit Bridge,
there is a glaring issue that shows we are not as aligned as
we should be, as this is seen as country specific, and there
is a belief that we will connect at the borders.”
In November last year, South Africa called for more private
sector collaboration. “As much as it is countries that trade,
it is more companies that trade and there is now an urgent
need to expand on our ideas,” Sibetlo concluded.
SADC urged to take on the North-South CorridorDespite the obvious benefi ts to the continent’s development, intra-Africa trade links are disturbingly low, with the majority of the region’s trade occurring with Europe, America and China.
According to
Africa Infrastructure
Country Diagnostics,
Africa will need to spend
a minimum of $ 93 billion a year
over 10 years to meet its infrastructure
needs, which call for a very substantial pro-
gram of infrastructure investment and maintenance.
Sinohydro in South Africa, the state-owned Chinese
hydropower engineering and construction company, has
500 overseas projects under construction.
Li Quanshen, chief representative of Sinohydro adds,
“There are 280 projects currently under construction in
Africa with a contract total of $21 billion. In Mozambique,
more than 10 small projects are under construction. In
Zambia, there are 14 projects valued at $1.8 billion, while
in Angola, there are 47 projects with a contract amount total
of $4.7 billion. We have the capacity, we are ready and
looking for collaboration with our local partners.”
Asked what projects Sinohydro currently had underway in
South Africa, Quanshen indicated that South Africa’s trad-
ing rules made it difficult, but that they were determined
to overcome the hurdles they had been presented with in
the past.
The 6th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation is scheduled
to take place in South Africa in 2015. This triennial ministe-
rial meeting between China and Africa is expected to:
• review the achievements of transport and infrastructure
projects between 2012 and 2015
• prepare potential projects for 2015 to 2018 and the
Pretoria Action Plan
• address capacity building and skills development
• explore the potential investment from China and other
BRICS countries
• identify feasible projects in SADC
• identify the cooperative partners with China, especially
for SEZs.
SUPPLY CHAIN LOGISTICS
36 TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
PORTS
IT IS LINKED to the industrial hub of South Africa,
Johannesburg, by the Maputo Logistics Corridor
Initiative, offering an alternative port of exit to South
Africa’s biggest port in Durban. Port Maputo’s commer-
cial director, Johann Botha speaks to Simon Foulds about
the port and its role.
What makes Port Maputo an asset to the country and to Southern Africa?• From a macro perspective, Port Maputo is located at the cen-
tre of the global logistics chain, serving the hinterland from
Southern Africa and being the closest to the Asian markets.
• The geographical advantage of Maputo is now being
exploited. The shorter road and rail distances to South
African customers is becoming more attractive with road
and rail improvements and border crossing initiatives
delivering success.
• We believe the efficiency at Port Maputo is the highest in
the region. We also provide flexibility as part of the service
offering and the approach of a tailored service to each cus-
tomer, to incorporate their unique requirements, is proving
to be extremely successful.
• The appetite for investment in Mozambique is at an all-time
high and as these opportunities are realised, the more the
growth plans will come to fruition.
• Port Maputo contributes 18% of the total customs revenue
of the country and 26% of the southern region.
What are the operating hours of the port?The port works 24 hours a day (in two shifts) all year, except
for 25 December and 1 January.
What is the size of the ships the port is able to accommodate?We can accommodate vessels with about 60 000 t GRT
as follows:
• max sailing draft: 12 m
• width: 32.5 m
• length: 250 m.
However with the dredging (to -14 m) planned for 2015, we
will be able to receive vessels up to 80 000 t GRT.
How many cranes operate at the port, and what types of cranes are they?The port operates bulk and break bulk operations using
ships’ gear but also have two mobile harbour cranes (60 t
and 40 t capacity respectively). The specialised container
terminal has two of its own gantry cranes (currently being
refurbished) and three mobile harbour cranes.
How many movements per hour?Container performance is 15 cycles per hour (one container
per lift, per crane). Bulk cargo is handled using skips or grabs
at 200 t per hour.
What is the average waiting period for ships entering the port?On average, the vessel waiting time is less than 24 hours but
for container vessels it is less than 12 hours.
How much volume moves through the port annually?In 2013, we handled 17.1 million t and the forecast for 2014
is 19.4 million t. For specifications see Table 1.
Can you please outline the port facilities and what each handles?• MCTL – car terminal
• ST AM – sugar terminal
• TCM – Matola coal terminal coal and magnetite
• MOZAL – aluminium terminal
Mozambican port propelling the region forwardPort Maputo has a mission of charting regional growth, by providing an attractive, competitive and integrated port service piloted by innovation and integrity.
How much volume moves through the port annually? 2010 2011 2012 2013
Throughput in tonnes
7 560 281 10 908 942 14 117 050 15 628 010
Container 1 212 921 992 116 844 228 1 546 482
Containers TEU´s
143 119 125 718 101 128 112 624
Total Through-put
8 773 202 11 901 058 14 961 278 17 174 492
Table 1
37TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
PORTS
• STEMA – grain and fuel terminal
• MLSC – vegetable oil and molasses terminal
• DP World Container Terminal
• MICD Intermodal Container Depot
• General Cargo Terminal – steel coils and pipes, bagged
cement, gypsum, bagged rice
• MPDC Bulk Minerals Terminal – ferrochrome, chrome ore,
phosrock, iron ore
• Cabotage Terminal of Maputo – local and imported cars,
cabotage cargo.
What ship repair facilities does the port offer? These are not available in Mozambique.
How many ships can be accommodated at any given time?We have 14 berths at the main port and 4 dedicated berths
at Matola port.
What have been the latest infrastructure developments at the port?Our current concession area is 140.6 ha, with an additional
5 500 ha available for expansion.
The following developments have been completed:
• the expansion of the port cargo gate to allow for six road
lanes servicing the movement of trucks into and out of
the port
• the rehabilitation and upgrade of the road network inside
the port with the addition of a perimeter ring-road of 2.1 km
to improve traffic flow
• the rehabilitation of cargo sheds to provide much needed
covered storage capacity with three shed already completed.
Planned developments include:
• the expansion of the coal terminal to a capacity of 30
million t
• the provision of an additional general bulk terminal with a
capacity of 8 million t
• the expansion of the car terminal to 15 000 slots
• the expansion of the container terminal to a capacity of
300 000 TEUs
• the rehabilitation of berths to provide
two deep-water berths with a draft
of 14 m
• the development of a Port Rail Master
Plan to guide rail investment and effi-
ciency improvement within the port.
What future expansion plans are in the pipeline to expand the port?Short term (2014 – 2015)
• Definitive bulk terminal
• Upgrade of berths 6 to 8
• Container terminal expansion (includes
additional yard; new rail terminal)
• Car terminal Phase 3
• New northern boundary road
• New wind and dust barriers
• Additional jersey blocks
• Two excavators and two backators
• Tug boat replacement
• Automated cargo systems.
Medium term (2016 – 2020)
• Matola coal terminal expansion – Phase 4
• Channel dredging – 14 m
• Bulk terminal Phase 2 (loading
equipment)
• Sugar terminal expansion
• Rehabilitation of arrival/departure
rail yard
• Internal rail shunting model
• Containers terminal expansion to berths
15 and 16.
Johann Botha, commercial director, Port Maputo
Commoditie 2010 2011 2012 2013BULK CARGO (tonnes) 7 474 788 10 798 679 13 917 586 15 320 078
CONTAINERS (TEUS) 14 964 981 21 612 803 27 863 666 30 678 757
CAR TERMINAL (tonnes) 85 493 110 263 178 514 180 491
Infrastructure• New slab at the bulk terminal
• Additional bulk shed for rock phosphate
• New internal rail lines
• Matola coal terminal expansion Phase 3.2
• Car terminal expansion Phase 2
• Berths 1 to 4 rehabilitated (for car carriers)
• Gate 1 expansion and road rehabilitation
• New MICD facility
Equipment• 12 x new payloaders
• 1 x Ram Revolver
• 14 x skeletal trailers
• New fenders for all berths
• Additional tug boat with 65 000 t bollard pull
• Pilot boat replacement
38 TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
TRAINING
THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT training chal-
lenge facing the industry was brought into stark
relief during the recent SAPICS convention where
I chatted to a number of key company representa-
tives who have been forced to promote key staff members to
new levels of tactical and strategic management positions.
This has resulted in a situation where highly experienced pro-
fessionals, who may have just focused on warehousing and
fleet management, have found their
positions professionalised to the level
of supply chain manager.
The watershed 2013 CSIR State of
Logistics Report looked at the results of
this sudden onset of professionalisation
in some detail and found that the focus
on transforming individual positions
to management positions required a
broad componentry of skills, underpinned by a broader view of
the economy and in-depth managerial development.
In addition, the Scarce Skills List published by the Department
of Labour, revealed that the sudden professionalisation of the
industry will open approximately 132 000 positions. That
doesn’t mean that there are now 132 000 new vacancies but
rather that there are 132 000 tactical and strategic positions
required within key professional areas such as management,
control, supervision or tactics. In turn, each of these areas
needs to be made up of the correctly proportioned number of
operational, tactical and strategic personnel.
Where are all the managers?The reality is, however, that while there are currently enough
operations personnel, there are not enough supervisory ele-
ments built into the logistics industry. This therefore results
in enormous pressure to boost the number of supply chain
managers at strategic and tactical levels, as opposed to purely
functional operators.
To pull the necessary personnel through the ranks of each
of these four disciplines, the industry will differentiate between
tactical managers and operational people within each band
and where tactical managers are already positioned, they will
be uplifted to the broader supply chain management level.
The problem with achieving this is that tactical people urgently
require tertiary qualifications like a Higher Certificate, or a
minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree on a strategic level.
To date, professional bodies have offered a myriad of inter-
national qualifications that the industry in general has agreed
warehouse and fleet managers must have. Unfortunately,
these courses have a specific focus in the form of certificate
courses in specific areas. Due to its relative youth as a for-
malised professional discipline, the supply chain and logistics
industry has not yet developed a fully mature accompanying
academic discipline, resulting in a scenario where very few
professionals have a logistics-specific tertiary qualification. It
is virtually unheard of to find anyone with a Master’s degree in
Logistics, let alone a Doctoral degree, working in the industry.
An academic backboneFor the industry to continue growing as it is at present, this
academic discipline must grow with it. But there is disparity
between academic development and the needs of the industry.
The first reason for this is that it is simply not practical for
already employed supply chain and logistics professionals to
attend residential universities, given that the majority of them
are full-time employees.
Another problem is that for many management profession-
als, it has been 20 years or more since they were on the receiv-
ing end of a course or lecture, so it will take time for them to
re-adopt a ‘student/learning’ mindset and often they achieve
this only after they have failed their courses.
This is where the ILSCM has a role to play in growing the
current managerial skills base within the industry, as it aims to
address the specific need for higher education degrees and
management training for professionals.
With supported distance learning, students have the flex-
ibility of distance learning, with course materials and other
necessary resources being sent in the post or made available
online. This allows employed students to study at their own
pace. Contact classes are supplementary, not compulsory,
and contact with lecturers is technologically mediated using
tools such as white boards and online platforms.
The local supply chain and logistics fraternity is in dire need
of dedicated, tailored degrees. Far from being a death sen-
tence, this is an opportunity the sector should welcome and
feel supported in achieving. We honestly feel that there is a
model to support the industry in achieving this and we hope
to take the industry to far greater heights with this strategy.
Providing relief to skills-strapped industry
Rapid professionalisation of the supply chain and logistics industry results in highly Rapid professionalisation of the supply chain and logistics industry results in highly skilled professionals needing to further upskill quickly. skilled professionals needing to further upskill quickly. Mario LandmanMario Landman head of the head of the ILSCM (Logistics and Supply Chain Management), discusses how the industry can ILSCM (Logistics and Supply Chain Management), discusses how the industry can navigate these choppy training waters.navigate these choppy training waters.
THE AUTHORMARIO LANDMAN, head of the Insti-tute of Logistics and Supply Chain Management (ILSCM)
There is disparity between academic development and the needs of the industry
39TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
RAIL TECHNOLOGY
NORMAN FRISCH, global director of business
development for railway solutions at Huawei
Technologies, outlines how Africa can benefit
from improved rail communication.
Railways in Africa still use outdated legacy analogue
trunking systems. The systems are unable to maintain reli-
able and secure radio communication, directly impacting
customer satisfaction for the cargo sector.
The introduction of GSM-Railway (GSM-R) will see the
railways obtain a more effective communication system
with an unprecedented track record of delivering reliable
and secure rail communication services and also receive
a cost-effective digital replacement for the existing in-track
cable and analogue railway radio networks. Over the past
years, the promising sector of GSM-R technology, which
provides digital wireless and IP railway communications,
has reached major milestones. GSM-R is an international
wireless communication standard for railway applica-
tions. It is the mainstream in railway communication and
is widely used by railways across the globe. The system
provides seamless communication between train and
control centres. Through this system, communication
performance is guaranteed at speeds of up to 500 km/h
and this makes it far superior to traditional analogue
communication systems.
In March 2014, Huawei Technologies, in partnership with
Bombardier, was appointed as the official GSM-R provider
by Zambia Railways for the Chingola-Livingstone Railway.
This partnership will see Huawei provide the GSM-R tech-
nology as well as transmission equipment and Bombardier
will deliver the train signaling solution, which will have the
railway system running according to the European Train
Control System standard. This is a standard backed by the
European Union to enhance cross-border interoperability
of rail traffic allowing railway operators across the world to
benefit from the procurement of signaling equipment fol-
lowing a single Europe-wide standard for train control and
command systems.
Due to high incidents of vandalism in Africa, Huawei
and Bombadier tailored the European Railing Traffic
Management System solution to reduce wayside equip-
ment on the Zambian railway tracks. This means that, to
a great extent, the equipment that transmits the signaling
is located on board the train and not on the ground next
to the railway tracks. For the GSM-R system, specially
designed microwave transmission links between the base
stations (backhaul) will dramatically reduce installation
costs and allow less vulnerability to vandalism and theft
than commonly used fixed transmission networks.
This solution is a system that can be adopted throughout
the continent.
The migration of Africa’s railway communication systems
to GSM-R and ERTMS will bear great fruit in the future.
This is a solution to the challenge faced by African coun-
tries with national railway management systems that cur-
rently do not communicate between each other. With the
adoption of GSM-R, African countries not only have the
opportunity to utilise a reliable and secure rail manage-
ment system but can also expand trade relations across
the continent.
The future of railway
management in Africa
The importance of a viable transport infrastructure system is closely connected to the economic, technological and social renaissance of Africa. By Simon FouldsBy Simon Foulds
“The migration of Africa’s railway communication systems will, in future, bear great fruit.” Norman Frisch, Huawei
40 TWA | Sep/Oct 2014
AIR CARGO
AIR DATA RELEASED by the International
Air Transport Association (IATA) for global air
freight markets show 2.3% growth in demand
(measured in freight tonne-kilometres, or
FTKs) over June 2013. That is however slower than the
4.9% growth reported for May.
Nevertheless, overall growth for the
first six months of 2014 stands at 4.1%
compared to the same period in 2013.
That is much stronger than the weak
1.4% increase reported for the full-year
2013 over 2012 levels. The strength-
ened growth has been underpinned by
improving global trade and stronger
business activity over the past year.
Tony Tyler, IATA’s director general and
CEO, says: “At the halfway point of the year, it is clear that
overall cargo demand is much stronger than in 2013. Carriers
in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East have been the biggest
beneficiaries of the improved mar-
ket conditions. Europe is doing
reasonably well, albeit still in
recovery mode. The weak spot is
the Americas.
“The general improvement in the economic environment
is always good news for air cargo. This may not however,
be a recovery as usual. First there are a lot of risks out
there – from conflicts and sanctions to potential national
defaults and fear of the Ebola outbreak. Second, while air
cargo is slowly emerging from two years in the doldrums,
time has not stood still. Logistics has become an even more
intensely competitive sector. Shippers value faster end-to-
end transit times, greater reliability and improved efficiency.
More clearly than ever, the building blocks for the future of
air cargo are found in global programmes such as e-Freight
and Cargo 2000. These are helping the entire value chain to
deliver on the expectations of their customers.”
Data for July shows a strong increase in air cargo.
Compared to July 2013, FTKs rose 5.8%. This is an accel-
eration in growth from June, when cargo demand grew at
less than half that rate.
The strong growth mirrors positive developments in
some key regional economies. After a slowdown at the
start of the year, global business confidence and trade are
showing signs of improvement again, especially in Asia-
Pacific. Global air cargo volumes have now surpassed
their previous July peak, in 2010, and look set to con-
tinue to increase. Taylor adds, “Overall, July saw growth
accelerate. That’s good news and it reflects
the continued strengthening of business con-
fidence at a global level. But the air cargo
industry is moving at two speeds, with a sharp
divide in regional performance. European car-
riers reported anaemic growth of just 1.8%
while all other regions reported solid gains of
5% or more on the previous year. In particular,
the 7.1% growth reported by airlines in Asia-
Pacific is encouraging as it demonstrates a
recovery in trade and a positive response to
China’s economic stimulus measures.”
July air freight volumes expandedStrong mid-year results disguise patchy regional performance.
Babcock DAF 15
Barloworld Logistics 32
Connecting Africa: Transport
Infrastructure 19
Ctrack OBC
FAW 10 & 11
Frost & Sullivan GIL 2014 28 & 29
Grindrod 22
Imperial Logistics 30 & 31
Inter Africa 18
KZN Growth Fund Trust 13
Mercedes-Benz IFC
Ngululu Bulk Carriers 25
Renault Trucks SA OFC, 6,7
Saryx Information System 21
Scania 4
Shell 3
Swaziland Railway 24
Total IBC
Trans African Concessions 34
World Wind Logistics 20
Index to advertisers
Tony Tyler, director general and CEO, IATA
IATA facts
African carriers grew 4.8% in June, much stronger than the year-to-date average of 3.1%. Growth has been affected by a slowdown in some African economies, notably South Africa. Improving trade data, however, points to a more optimistic outlook for the rest of the year. Capacity grew 0.3% in June, year-on-year, whereas, in July, African carriers’ FTKs grew 11.3%. However, African freight volumes remain highly volatile, and given the slowdown in South Africa this year, it is too early to say that prolonged growth acceleration is underway, capacity grew at 4.5%.
The strengthened growth has been underpinned by improving global trade
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