Angola attracts strong interest Durban generates 30% of overall SDV Transami business

RAY SMUTS
ENJOYING representation in much of Africa is certainly a benefit for clearing and forwarding company SDV Transami, and Durban branch manager Robert White is focused on substantial further growth on the continent.
“Our big push is into Africa, the major focus falling on SADC countries like Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania, and we would certainly like to grow this branch’s business by 20% to 25% in the year ahead,” says White, who only recently assumed his portfolio after an 18-month stint as branch manager for Cargo Services in Durban.
French-backed SDV Transami operates from Durban and Johannesburg and White estimates Durban is responsible for generating around 30% of overall business.
The lion ‘s share involves containers, mostly imports destined for African countries, but SDV Transami also utilises outsourced road haulage services to transport locally-produced goods to those countries.
“We are agents for Shoprite Checkers and Massmart Stores, both active in Africa, so probably around 40TEUs a month are dispatched from Durban on their behalf, reefer cargo included, while our transit cargo amounts to some 100TEUs a month.”
SDV Transami also handles exports from African countries - commodities like coffee, tea and clothing - but this constitutes a minor part of the Durban business.
The company has an office in Angola and this has become the focus for 2005. White expects more growth in view of the many opportunities that exist, particularly in oil and gas exploration.
The company has tendered for a project involving the upgrade of the Angola rail system - handling 500TEUs of railway sleepers and other rail-related equipment a year - and White expects a decision during the first quarter of next year.
Its large Durban client base ranges from paint manufacturers to transporters, and in White’s view things are getting busier. “We are certainly confident about this operation looking forward to 2005.”