Despite tough economic times in South Africa SDV, part of the multinational Bollore Group, has reported steady growth over the past year. “We have seen positive growth of 15% from 2013 to 2014 in revenue as well as tonnage. We have seen significant growth in pharmaceutical imports as well as exports,” SDV regional air manager, Jamie Anderson, said. “Our worldwide airfreight consolidation services are showing positive growth as clients seek new cost-saving solutions for their airfreight import and export shipments. “The further expansion of our own weekly air cargo freighter services – including the newly deployed Katanga Air Express – operating Johannesburg-Lubumbashi, serves the Katanga region in DRC,” he said. “We have increased our air cargo freighter operations for our Pemba Air Express service to meet oil and gas client demand in Mozambique. In addition, we have seen increased demand for our aerospace, mining and defence industries air service products, along with strong growth for our Fast Fresh Food air service product,” Anderson said, pointing to Bollore Africa Logistics' extensive logistics footprint on the continent. “We have continued to see strong cargo export demand to immediate Africa, meaning cargo which moves on a maximum fourhour flight range from South Africa,” he said. “This cargo is from both the South African market and also fed into Johannesburg by our global network to connect with our freighter feeder service programme.” Bollore Group is investing in airline services throughout Africa, according to Anderson “This includes airline cargo general sales agency, airline cargo interline services from our key air hubs throughout Africa, as well as joint ventures with governments and airlines towards aviation infrastructure and development,” he said. However, Anderson added that the sector faced challenges, not least less market volume in a struggling economy with many established freight forwarders chasing the same traffic for less yield. “As much as it may seem like an ideal buyer’s market in South Africa for airfreight traffic, forwarders are continuing to push the airlines down in price, which will ultimately lead to some airlines considering reducing flights or in severe cases, stopping flights altogether,” he said. “Less uplift capacity where there is consistent cargo space demand means that the remaining airline rates go up, which makes South African products more expensive on the global market.” Another concern, Anderson said, was the labour environment in South Africa, and the potential for transport strikes in 2015 that could hamper planning and investment for the Bollore Group as well as the logistics industry as a whole. INSERT 15% Year-on-year growth in revenue and tonnage. CAPTION At the recent launch of SDV’s weekly Katanga Air Express freighter service the company transported four tons of urgent mine site spares from Johannesburg to Lubumbashi airport in the DRC where its aircraft (pictured) awaited customs clearance before flying a further 300km to the remote mine site, demonstrating the company’s commitment to final mile delivery throughout the continent.
