‘A competent agent is key for this difficult market’

The language barrier and unfamiliarity with the local business systems are the key complaints of shippers into Angola, who nonetheless want to break into the growing market there. Gary Wagner of RB Freight Management advises: “Angola is very, very different from other markets. Having a competent agent in Angola is the key to success as they understand and are safe with the Angola systems.” Forwarding company RB Freight Management is headquartered in Durban with a Jo’burg office. The firm ships globally but specialises in Africa, where its offices can be found in Tanzania, Mozambique, Kenya and Namibia. A new office will open in Angola shortly, Wagner said. “But we’ve been in Angola for several years. We have a clearing agent at the Santa Clara border. Currently we ship mining equipment, spare parts (motor industry and mining), food, brewing equipment and also offer a procurement option for some of our clients. We use all major shipping lines. For over a month we have used our own vessel out of Walvis Bay, the Soranjos, for carrying unitised cargo,” he said. With vessels stuck at outer anchorage in Luanda port for long periods of time, shippers must expect berthing delays. “Our airfreight department can manage cargo by air and we are looking into expanding this service. In the past we have airfreighted mining and other machinery for servicing and reworking back to SA, and then have re-imported the equipment to Luanda and other African countries after the servicing and repair work was completed. A problem with the (Luanda) airport is that shipments go missing, due to excess airfreight cargo in the air cargo area,” Wagner said. With all the challenges of doing business there, is the country worth the hassle? In Wagner’s view there is no question. “Angola is a very expensive but a very worthwhile market.”