Celtic Freight has recorded an upswing in the consolidation market to Zambia which has seen a surge in small trade deals with the East, particularly India and China. “With Emirates now f lying daily out of Lusaka, traders are easily able to travel to China and India and are purchasing smaller consignments,” says Celtic Freight managing director, Adrian Friend. “Degrouping agents in Durban are able to make use of Celtic Zambia’s presence in Zambia to be their de-facto agent within the region,” he said. “In our experience, international freight forwarders have realised that to have an office in Zambia is expensive, not to mention encountering the proverbial red tape to a degree that makes setting up an office near to impossible,” says Friend. Celtic Freight’s presence in Zambia has equipped it with local knowledge and skills and Friend says the company is willing to help forwarders that are breaking into, or expanding into the Zambian market. “Obviously in the hope that they will use our trucks for the delivery,” he adds. As an on-site agent for international forwarders, the transporter also offers free use of its containers on its daily despatch of cargo out of Johannesburg and Durban. “We offer a bill of lading collection service, charges collection and client liaison, amongst others, for a number of degrouping agents, international forwarders and a growing number of South African forwarding companies,” said Friend. INSERT & CAPTION Degrouping agents in Durban are able to make use of Celtic Zambia’s presence to be their de-facto agent within the region. – Adrian Friend
