Airfreight records strongest growth

Imports from China pump up volumes Kevin Mayhew BUSINESS GROWTH has motivated expansion for Johannesburg-based Buffalo Freight Systems which has opened a new office and warehouse in Pretoria. Managing director, Margrit Wolff, reports major growth in imports from China during the past year, and anticipates further growth this year. Exports have shown steady growth in a shrinking market and Buffalo Freight Systems is now the second largest shipper to the United States and 10th largest to the United Kingdom, she told FTW. “We are handling some 3000 containers from China – of mostly retail products – per year at this stage.” Despite all the problems that South African importers experienced last season, she adds that their supply chain worked with not a single delivery delay recorded during peak season. “We have seen our airfreight business grow by 80% in the past 12 months, making this the largest area of growth,” she added.