Chavda focuses on airfreight growth

Africa specialist Chavda Freight has put airfreight into Africa on its growth agenda. The Johannesburgbased company, which has established its credentials in the region with a clear focus on road and sea, is keen to expand its airfreight division. “At the moment we are doing some airfreight, mainly into Angola, for a sister company but we see airfreight as a lucrative growth market,” director Hannes Rust told FTW. “We are an established roadfreight operator and therefore have the expertise in southern Africa,” said Rust. “We can provide the service, we have the resources and it’s therefore a logical move.” Chavda was recently approached by a client who exports by air into Botswana, Zambia Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Namibia, said Rust. “We are looking at the entire region.” Along with the rest of the industry, Rust reports an exceptional 2008 in terms of volumes and performance. “It was a very good year for us until December and into early January. It seems that everyone was trying to get everything done before the end of the year. “We were extremely busy and then in February things started slowing down.” According to Rust the majority of goods moved are related to the mining and construction industries. “A lot of the mines virtually stopped production in Angola or slowed down.” But ever the optimist, he is confident of an upturn in the not too distant future. Chavda offers an intermodal integrated logistics service that includes packing, customs clearance and warehousing and storage.