Last week's top stories on FTW Online

Good news for
commodities in
2017
The World Bank is
forecasting strong
gains for industrial
commodities like energy
and metals in 2017 due
to tightening supply and
strengthening demand.
Currency crisis
derails Zim import
ban plans
Without “adequate
foreign currency”,
the Zimbabwean
government’s move to
restrict imports is of
no use to the economy,
according to the president
of the Confederation of
Zimbabwe Industries
(CZI), Busisa Moyo.
New procurement
regulations
launched
National Treasury has
finalised and launched
the revised Preferential
Procurement Regulations
2017 following an
“extensive” consultation
process with stakeholders
late last year.
Watch your back for
40% hikes in box
contract rates
The container freight
market is strengthening
and Drewry said some
shippers could see
contract rates rise up to
40% if the worst comes to
the worst.
Another blow for
platinum industry
The platinum industry
has been dealt
another blow with the
announcement by the
Johannesburg Stock
Exchange-listed Sibanye
that it will be entering
into a consultation
process at its platinum
operations, which could
result in the retrenchment
of approximately 330
employees.
Shipping at risk
from US withdrawal
from TPP
International press
reports have headlined US
president Donald Trump
starting his trade pact
targeting with last week’s
proposed withdrawal from
the 12-member Trans-
Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Davies on Brexit
mission in London
Minister of Trade and
Industry, Dr Rob Davies,
has arrived in the United
Kingdom for a two-day
visit to discuss the way
forward with Brexit and
to showcase opportunities
for British investment.