Halaal products create niche opportunity

AIRFREIGHT OUT of China has boomed in the past six months while seafreight container volumes have enjoyed modest growth on the China-South Africa route for local Far East specialists. “The airfreight growth is due to the approaching peak season with ships fully booked and urgent cargo having to be airfreighted over,” says Mariana Venter, national seafreight forwarding manager of the Hecny Group. “The airfreight growth has been exceptional and China’s growth is not showing signs of slowing down.” Everything from textiles and shoes to electronics and furniture is being brought into South Africa by air and sea, and Hecny’s recently-secured export permit for Halaal products out of Indonesia has opened up a key niche opportunity for the company. “We are the only freight forwarder to have secured the export permit for Halaal certified goods out of Indonesia.” Hecny trade lane manager Grant Gillespie says that with 14 offices in Mainland China alone, the Hecny Group is ideally positioned close to the action. And with China’s continued growing dominance in the global arena, the prospects are positive for many years to come.