SA mining equipment gets warm reception in South America

THE DEMAND is huge, consistent and by all reports projected to remain robust well into the future, and shippers who scoop the business of transporting SA mining equipment to the Americas have a good thing going for at least the rest of this decade. “Many of the South African companies that manufacture mining equipment have their order books full to the end of 2010,” said Jan Ludolph, managing director of the South African operation of the worldwide freight management company Geodis Wilson. “It’s interesting to see how our South African technology is doing there, because many countries manufacture mining equipment,” said Ludolph, whose firm moves SA-produced machinery and parts to South American countries like Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Peru. “We send a lot of cargo down there on behalf of South African exporters, not just mining equipment. Business is good,” said Ludolph. Operating out of three SA offices manned by a staff of 120 in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, Geodis Wilson sends cargo to the Americas by airfreight and seafreight. Geodis Wilson’s position in the South American market was enhanced in January this year when the firm acquired Rohde & Liesenfeld, with its well-developed Latin American freight forwarding business. “It’s been exciting, and working out really well,” said Ludolph of the acquisition of the Germany company that had been in partnership with the Geodis group since 2002. Röhde & Liesenfeld brings to the table its roster of Latin American clients. “We are positioned to see further growth in our shipping from South Africa,” said Ludolph. As long as South America’s mining sector is as productive as current activity indicates, only the capacity to manufacture required mining equipment and replacement gear will determine the amount of this type of cargo Geodis Wilson will be shipping. The R&L acquisition has boosted the firm’s capacity to handle new volumes.