Maize producer takes Gauteng export crown

Leonard Neill AFRICAN PRODUCTS, the largest wet-miller of maize products on the African continent, is the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Gauteng Exporter of the Year 2002. The company was awarded the Standard Corporate and Merchant Bank (SCMB) trophy at a ceremony in Sandton last week. It is currently involved with in mass export of maize and maize products into sub-Saharan Africa, with Viamax Logistics handling its forwarding arrangements. It also produces of modified and unmodified starches, glucose syrups, powdered glucose, sorbitol and gluten 20 and 40, used in such diverse industries as food, beverage, pharmaceutical, textile, paper making, adhesives, spray drying and animal feeds. These are exported to European markets as well as Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and Nigeria. Export turnover has leapt from R65million in 1999 to R168million last year. The company also won the Large Manufacturing category where the other finalist was P G Bison Ltd. The Medium Manufacturing category, sponsored by Maersk Sealand, was won by Container World, with the other finalists Ringrollers and Thomas Abrasives. The Small Manufacturing category, sponsored by National Ports Authority of SA, was won by Klamflex Pipe Couplings. Finalists were Laser Measurement, Linegear 2000 and Salchain. Ford Motor Company of SAÕs automotive components division in Rosslyn won the Services category, with Azisa and Summerfield Exports the other finalists.