Export volumes via ocean freight are down by five percent this year largely due to labour unrest in the mining and steel sectors. Yet, as an industrialised nation, South Africa should be doing better in general as an export nation. So said Dirk Hoffmann, managing director of Safmarine Southern Africa, speaking at the Transport Special Interest Group (SIG) Forum in Johannesburg last week around the need to develop the maritime industry in South Africa. He noted that if South Africa wanted to retain its status as a gateway in the sub-Saharan region and compete as a meaningful global maritime trade player, it needed to invest in skills and boost its manufacturing capacity. Hoffman said the sanctions imposed on Russia by many of its traditional trading partners had also opened up new export opportunities for South Africa. He also noted that the industry needed move towards more automation and standardisation to make it easier to do business with the shipping lines. INSERT & CAPTION South Africa should be doing better as an export nation. – Dirk Hoffmann
