Import volumes up despite weaker rand

ALAN PEAT
THERE ARE two very distinct benefits in the recent acquisition by Excellence Forwarding of its own new office premises in Johannesburg, according to GM, Sam Houniet. The first is that it is a valuable capital asset, she told FTW, and secondly that it has allowed the company to grow at the required pace to keep up with increasing market demand. “More space, more people, more business,” she added, “all adding up to justifying having our own premises.” And, despite the rand hitting a current weak spot – its lowest for a long time, according to Houniet – the company’s import clearing and forwarding business has grown apace. “Although import trade in general has been restrained by the adverse currency exchange,” she said, “our existing clients have been able to import much more. “This, added to new clients on our books, has all tended to strengthen business.” Future plans, Houniet added, include Excellence developing its own warehouse facility on-site – and internal expansion in line with the company’s market growth. “We are also planning the opening of an office in Port Elizabeth,” she said, “but this idea is still at an early stage in our development plans.”