INCREASED TRADE between South Africa and Australia/New Zealand is paying dividends for Barbican Line, whose monthly eastbound service reports positive growth on the route.
That's according to Hamburg-based commercial manager Rudiger Brakling, who was in South Africa last week on a regular visit to customers and local agents, Freightmarine.
The line, which operates a fully cellular service from Brazil to Australia via South Africa, is currently moving some 200 to 300 teus a month ex Southern Africa.
While the South America - South Africa route is well served by many Far East carriers who have extended their sailings to include this market, Brakling believes that Barbican's port coverage in Brazil offers the shipper a wider range. While other lines generally call only at Santos and Paranagua, we go to ports in the south and north of Brazil which are not covered by Far East carriers. On the SA - Australia leg of the service, the line recently added Auckland in New Zealand to its direct port schedule. Market research revealed that there was a need for a dedicated service on the route.
Research also revealed that there was a growing market between New Zealand and Brazil. Therefore, by combining the one with the other, we have balanced the trade and satisfied the needs of shippers on both routes. The line's monthly service maintains an 83-87 day round voyage, and Brakling does not expect to add any further ports to the schedule. In fact we have cut down on ports in the Pacific Ocean to ensure schedule integrity. For Barbican, stimulating trade on the routes which it serves is part and parcel of its commitment to these trades, according to Brakling. Its agency offices in Brazil, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand have achieved significant success in their efforts in this direction, he said.
