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.