Access sets up buyer consolidation service in Asia

It’s good news time as far as the Far East is concerned, according to Kevin Louden, group CEO of Access Freight International. “Our Africa mineral volume are exceptional, showing us that the recession is fast waning,” he told FTW. “Access has experienced major import and export growth within the Far East regions.” He attributes much of this to the upturn in commodity prices resulting from increased demand for these raw materials. “It has been generated, in the main, by improving demand out of China,” Louden added. It’s also a driving force in the success of Access. “We are one of the largest movers of minerals out of Africa, and continue to capitalise on our position by offering clients exceptional service and reliable capacity, even in boom times.” Not that it’s been a boom recently, according to Louden. “The manufacturing sector has been hard hit as a result of falling demand from the developed world and SA has not escaped unharmed. A recent trend identified was the move to smaller inbound shipments – and a consequent increase in the need to consolidate these shipments from multiple points within China.” In Louden’s view, fulfilling this consequent result means that Access’s ability to supply consolidated services to clients has grown substantially. “With our established agency partnership in China,” he added, “the opportunity arose to establish a ‘buyer consolidation service (BCS)’ in Asia – originating out of Shenzhen, Ning Bo and Hong Kong. “We believe that these are the ideal locations from which to source, consolidate and export. Sufficient knowledge and expertise reside in these areas to support the varied needs of our clients’ local and global supply chains.”