Reliable ‘cautiously optimistic’

Cautious optimism is the
outlook at Reliable Freight
and Forwarding based on
input from key customers,
says MD Fernando Branco.
“Air cargo picked up
25-30% last year for us.
At the beginning of the
year I went to see all my
clients, and everyone was
cautious about this year.
But amazingly enough we
are confident,” Branco told
FTW.
The reason for his
optimism is the disconnect
between some pessimistic
sentiments still languishing
from the recent painful
recession and the more
favourable current reality of
his shippers’ businesses.
“Our clients have sound
finances and are doing well.
They have the cash to buy
overseas. We expect to bring
in more cargo. For imports
we expect growth of 40%
this year. Some of our clients
are doubling their imports,”
said Branco.
80% of cargo shipped in
by air by the six year-old
firm comes from China,
mostly furniture and
corporate gifts, followed
by electronic components,
machines and spares.
Europe and Australia
provide other key import
source countries.
60% of the firm’s exports
are airfreighted to African
destinations.
“From South Africa we
move a lot of spare parts,
components and furniture
to Angola, which is our
top destination, and to
other countries. Nigeria,
Ghana and Malawi are also
important to us. Our clients
go for airfreight in Africa
because it’s faster and there
is less paperwork when the
goods go through customs
compared to road,” Branco
said.
As a rule, clients dispatch
by air goods weighing up
to 500 kilos, he said. But
much larger cargoes moved
by air freighters are not
uncommon. Headed mostly
to Ghana and Nigeria, bigger
shipments such as large
pipes and components for the
oil industry can weigh in at
up to three tonnes.