Demand for pharma products on the up

Import demand for
pharmaceutical and
telecommunications goods into
SADC countries has spiked
during the second quarter
of 2016 according to a local
logistics company.
Ronald Kuwali, director
of Johannesburg-based Jarp
Logistics, said demand for
both road and airfreight of
pharmaceutical products,
including medication and
vitamins, into Zambia, Malawi,
Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria,
Mauritius, Madagascar,
Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Ghana
and Mozambique was “steady”
following a slow
start to the
year.
“It was a
lot quieter at
the beginning
of the year and
trade was down
by about 60%.
We are positive
about the
outlook over the
coming months,” Kuwali said.
Demand for
telecommunications goods
such as fibre optical cable has
also grown on the back of
infrastructure development
and strong economic growth in
Zambia.
“We are doing a lot of crosstrade
of telecommunications
equipment from India into
Africa and imports into South
Africa. Tractor spares and
poultry equipment, mostly
from South Africa but also
imports from the Netherlands
and the United States are also
in demand,” he said.
Kuwali was upbeat about
the outlook for imports to
the SADC region for the year
ahead, with the exception of
Zimbabwe which was battling
economically.
“We haven’t moved
consignments there
for two weeks,” he
said.
Kuwali said
demand for road
freight into Malawi
was particularly strong
as it was cost effective with
a turnaround time of just three
days.
“We are looking at expanding
and opening offices in Malawi
early next year to keep pace
with demand,” he said.