Getting the most out of airfreight demands an understanding of the basics

When it comes to trade with Africa, complacency is not an option. “Politics and economics – particularly in Africa – can change overnight,” says Metro Minds’ Juliette Fourie. And there are more than enough training programmes on offer by public and private institutions to provide the requisite knowledge, says Fourie. “There is nothing more dangerous than an uneducated trader – and as a training provider for the forwarding and clearing industry, we constantly come up against a lack of understanding of the basics.” In her view this starts with the exporter deciding on the correct incoterm. “The VAT Act also plays an important role – incorrect VAT is often charged on the exporter’s commercial invoice purely because of ignorance.” Fourie says one of the most basic reasons for airfreight cargo delays is documentation. “The airlines frequently receive incomplete and incorrect documents from the exporter and the freight forwarder – and this relates not only to transport, but also customs compliance documents.” While sending cargo by airfreight is generally the safest option, it may not always be the quickest, says Fourie. “A number of issues need to be factored in – like the fact that there may not always be daily flights or space available. “It is therefore crucial for shippers to understand routings, schedules, facilities, equipment, compliances and restrictions into the country of destination. “This will not only help the exporter plan his trade cycles better, but also give the airline, freight forwarder and the importer the opportunity to ensure a hasslefree trade cycle.”