The demand for consolidation
services from small
businesses in Africa has risen
on the back of declining oil
prices.
This is according to
Seascape Consolidators
director Jillian Appleby who
has reported a strong uptake
in demand for the company’s
services into Angola. The
company is a division
of Seascape Freight and
Logistics and specialises in
LCL groupage with monthly
sailings from Johannesburg
to Luanda.
Appleby said the firm had
experienced “exponential”
growth over the past year and
planned to broaden its routes
in 2018.
“The falling oil price
affecting many African
countries has had a domino
effect on the smaller traders
who are now only moving
small volumes so there is
an increase in demand for
consolidation,” Appleby said.
The strong demand
was most apparent in
transporting IT equipment,
data centre spares, telecom
infrastructure and a range of
other commodities, she said.
Poor road infrastructure
and stringent and complex
customs procedures however
continued to present
challenges.
“Our thorough on-theground
research of the
various countries and our
agents has resulted in
Seascape partnering with
top agents who are experts
in their various geographical
areas in sub-Saharan Africa,”
said Appleby, who believes
there are opportunities
for further growth on the
continent.
“Africa is on the rise
for those companies that
can adapt their business
module to work within the
ever-changing needs and
formalities in Africa.
