MMA to open Durban office

Weaker rand pushes up exports
CLIVE EMDON
THE WEAKENING rand will bring relief to exporters and growth to the export industry says Mike Todd, MD of wholesale air cargo consolidator MMA Consolidators. “While wearing our individual consumer hats we would like to see the rand strengthening, as a business the weaker rand will help airlines and agents as our revenue streams are based mainly on US dollar and euro rates conversion.” With a 40-60% import/export split, the company is well placed to maintain a steady turnover, says Todd. “Invariably one sector will gain at the expense of the other. Major growth in the past year has been on the export side, mostly airfreight to Africa, Europe and the US.” Todd believes South African consolidators are a little different from their counterparts in other parts of the world. “Our clients are small to medium retail agents who need to compete against larger forwarding companies. We offer them access to all airlines operating to South Africa and take away the financial burden of having to tie up their working capital in airline guarantees. As a consolidator we take a fair amount of risk away from airlines.” Reflecting the company’s export growth, the staff complement has jumped from 3 to 28 in two years. The Gauteng head office this month moved to new premises with larger warehouse and offices. September 1 will see the opening of a Durban branch - MMA Consolidators (KZN) – which will open new opportunities in this growing market. MMA’s service portfolio for export agents includes packing facilities, fumigation, accredited export customs documentation and worldwide door-to-door services.