Direct service launched to Santos

The US continues to be a strong route for independent consolidator CFR Freight, which has recorded encouraging growth in imports, according to MD Martin Keck. With good support from several of the major global freight forwarders through its partnership in the World Wide Alliance, it’s one of the company’s well supported routes. “Together with Shipco Transport International, our World Wide Alliance partner in the USA, we have been serving this route for over 15 years, offering our clients stability and reliability both southbound and northbound,” said Keck. And in the currently recessive economic climate, there’s been a trend from FCL to LCL and from airfreight to seafreight in order to contain costs – both of which have yielded positive benefits for CFR. In terms of South America, the company focuses on the two hubs of Santos and Buenos Aires. “Six months ago we launched a direct service into Santos in Brazil which has been well received, and that complements our established Buenos Aires service.” Because of transhipment restrictions on LCL cargo landing in Brazil, Buenos Aires is the hub for all cargo into the rest of South and Central America. Traditionally South Africa has focused on Europe, the US and more recently the East. But Keck believes that on the back of South Africa’s membership of the Brics, the next four years could bring significant opportunities on the Brazil trade lane generated by that country’s hosting of the Soccer World Cup and the Olympic Games. CAPTION Martin Keck ... encouraging growth in imports.