Importers and exporters making
use of Beira and other ports in
southern Africa are urged to
take control of their own destiny
by getting more involved in
understanding and managing their
logistics chain, says Chris Harvie,
commercial and new business
manager of Transcom Sharaf.
Founded in Lilongwe Malawi
in 2003, the company was
among the first new investors
in warehousing and logistics in
Beira.
It opened offices in Beira, Tete
and Johannesburg in 2004.
With a fleet of 150 cross-border
haul trucks in 2007, Transcom
entered into a partnership
agreement with the Sharaf Group
from Dubai to form Transcom
Sharaf.
The new company invested
in warehousing and container
terminals in Beira comprising
20 000 sqm of modern
warehousing, a 3 000-TEU
container terminal with two 40-
ton Kalmar reach stackers.
It is an approved Collateral
Management Centre for various
commodities such as tobacco,
minerals, cotton and fertiliser.
The customs bonded facility
was the first of its kind outside
of the port in the city of Beira,
and was built in anticipation of
demand, according to Harvie.
The facility offers a total
logistics package, including
clearing and forwarding,
warehousing and shipping
from its container park and
warehouses in Beira, according to
regional general manager Allison
Pinheiro.
She recently moved to Beira
from Lilongwe and one of her
focus areas is the increasing
volume of agricultural and
manufacturing exports from
Mozambique and neighbouring
states.
“Often the last thing farmers or
factory owners think of is getting
their products to market,” she
says.
High regional logistics costs
can price the products out of the
market, says Harvie.
Just as important is being able
guarantee on-time delivery.
Cargo owners can best manage
these risks and costs by entering
into long-term agreements
with logistics providers such as
Transcom Sharaf, rather than
constantly looking for the lowest
price, he says.
Contracts enable the logistics
service provider to invest in the
right equipment, and to plan
ahead in order to minimise costly
empty legs.
CAPTION
Allison Pinheiro … focusing on
agricultural and manufacturing exports.
