Diversification sees growth in WCS export business

The South African LCL export
market, traditionally a prepaid
market, is slowly but surely
changing, according to Alistair
Heald of World Cargo Services
(WCS).
“It has been changing from
the traditional prepaid market as
more and more consignees move
towards nominating the NVOCC/
freight forwarder. The reason for
this is twofold,” he said. “Firstly,
consignees want to control
their ocean and landside costs,
particularly as destination rebates
become more prevalent, while the
effects of global contracts are also
being felt more and more.”
All of this, said Heald, has
required quite a mind-set change
– especially when receiving cargo
nominations from destination
agents.
World Cargo Services, best
known for its air and sea import
services from the USA, UK and
China, has added to its service
offering and now has a fully
fledged groupage export service to
multiple destinations.
“This is in line with WCS’s
global expansion programme.
Our export department has grown
rapidly despite the economy and we
now consider ourselves a player in
this market,” said Heald. “Groupage
cargo is being consigned to our
established overseas partners and
has led to new opportunities for us
in establishing new agents in West
and East Africa, where we have
seen a lot of activity. Similarly
our overseas agents are sending
their East and Africa freight either
direct or to us for transhipment via
Durban.”
He said WCS would continue
to participate in exchange sales
visits with its overseas agents to
ensure that the services on offer
are being promoted at origin and
destination points.