‘Jack of all trades and master of none’ has no place in the freight industry where specialisation is key. FTW casts the spotlight on some of the industry’s niche market players. Far East specialist caters for importers and exporters A KEY element of survival in a volatile currency environment is the ability to take advantage of the trading changes that occur with a weak and strong rand. The operations director of Durban-based Viking Shipping, Naresh Maharaj, says that his company found it beneficial to focus on establishing itself as a substantial partner to companies dealing with Far East imports, either for South Africa or transhipped into other more remote African countries. “We have been able to turn to the needs of exporters when the rand was driving exports and then imports when it strengthened. Our focus is on the Far East so we get to know the markets of these areas very well," he said. "There is always cargo from there moving through Durban that needs to be handled on behalf of Far East exporters who do not know the African logistics leg of the chain.” He said they essentially established themselves as a distribution hub for the Far East and, no matter what the strength of the rand, there is a constant demand for goods from other African countries. Viking Shipping is the African shareholder of Singapore-based JGC Line and has spent the past three years establishing the necessary operational arrangements with representatives in sub-Saharan Africa. JGC is an established network of members and agents that all subscribe to common service levels and offer a number of services that streamline the handling of freight.
