Tough times call for secrecy it would seem. As the global economic downturn continues to impact on freight forwarding, more and more companies are keeping their cards close to their chests. “The pie has become so much smaller so people are just not sharing information about what they are doing or what their plans are,” says Ruud Walgaard, regional manager of ACS in Zambia. “Cargo is still moving, but there has been a downward spiral since October – and while we are slowly starting to move out of it, everyone is keeping their cards close to their chests.” Rainer Frick of Cargo Management + Logistics agrees, pointing out that caution is definitely the order of the day. “At the moment rates do all the talking and cash is king. Whatever the lowest rate is – that is being taken and it is the determining factor.” He said companies were, however, not sharing their strategy or information as there was just not as much opportunity going around as the same time last year. Chris Chipimo of Bridge Shipping says while traders have returned to Ndola in the Copperbelt there is still not as much talk as usual. And it’s understandable as some 47 mines closed down in the nearby DRC between October last year and March this year and project work dropped to an all time low. “People are hungry for business,” says David Chimfwembe, Lusaka area manager for Manica in Zambia. “Competition is rife. Right now everyone wants to make the money and get the job.”
