The movement of bulk as containerised cargo is once again on the up after a slow-down during the global recession, says Safmarine’s recently appointed Johannesburg-based national commodity manager, Steven Simpson. A major player in the movement of containerised commodities such as chrome, ferrochrome, copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt and iron out of South Africa to the Far East, Safmarine is expecting strong volumes for 2011, he told FTW. And the containerised metals and minerals export trade is a valuable contributor to the line’s business, Simpson added. While many lines view this as ‘backhaul cargo’ or simply a way to fill the ships on the return voyage to the Far East, it’s a strong area of focus for Safmarine. “Recognising the importance of these shipments to our business we have taken the time to get to know the industry, particularly its supply chain challenges, and to establish partnerships that add value to both our business and our customers’ businesses,” said Janine Nainkin, national dry exports and capacity manager, Simpson, who has been with Safmarine for the past six years, has full pricing authority and is coordinating Safmarine’s efforts in the commodity export market. Equipment supply is key priority for Safmarine, she added. “We believe in staying close to the market because doing so allows us to monitor the flows and better manage our equipment. “Commodity exports is a volatile business and it’s very important that our customers have the confidence in us to meet their equipment needs. Having the boxes available when our customers need them is a key priority in this business.”
