‘Minerals market key for port planning’

“Understanding the minerals
market is key to planning the
requirements and expectations
of our ports,” says Kriba Naiken,
managing director of ICM Group.
“Minerals, including iron
ore, chrome, manganese and
others, but excluding precious
metals such as platinum and gold
contribute around 23% to the
South African economy by value,
and around 40% of shipping
tonnage excluding coal. In the
past, these trends were ignored
and the resulting impact was that
the economic growth of South
Africa was limited to what our
ports could handle,” said Naiken.
ICM clearing and forwarding
specialises in mineral logistics,
exporting over 4000 containers
a month while moving 60 000
tonnes a month through its bulk
port and bulk export charter
services.
Shipping has been expedited
through interaction with Durban
port authorities, Naiken said.
“At present, the ports interact
often with the private sector,
aligning themselves with global
demands versus SA supply.
ICM’s patented innovations
like Skiptainer are also key in
forging a long-term partnership,
where Skiptainer has shown huge
benefits in improving operational
turnaround times at the ports for
bulk Skiptainer trains. ICM, TFR
and the National Port Ops are
now creating long term strategies
around products like Skiptainer,”
he said.
“ICM also handles over 1000
TEUs of import cargo and a
vast amount of project-related
cargo. Our people are our key
and our operations team consists
of 32 staff who operate an
efficient system of managing our
customers’ product and needs,
whether bulk or container,”
Naiken added.
“Overall 2011 will be a tough
year, but those companies
that see it through will reap
the rewards in 2012,” Naiken
predicts.