Sandara chemical complex will unlock major opportunity

Growing its Middle
Eastern footprint is a top
priority for M&S Logistics
which has identified
several opportunities in
the Gulf.
“We have been involved
in the region for some
time, but we are now
actively focusing on
developing and increasing
our offerings to and from
the region,” managing
director, Kreason Pillay,
told FTW.
“The region
itself is set on
growing and
developing
relationships
across sub-
Saharan
Africa. Our
aim is to
optimise our
existing routes
into Eastern and
Northern Africa
by including
more Middle Eastern
destinations in the mix.”
He said there was
already a lot of interaction
between North and East
Africa and the Middle East
– and he believed there was
significant potential for
further growth.
Pillay said one
example was the current
construction of Sadara, the
world’s largest chemical
complex ever to be built in
one phase.
With 26 integrated
world-scale manufacturing
plants that will produce
more than three
million tons of
products every year
it is estimated that
Sadara, which
comes online
towards the end
of this year, will
be a Fortune
500 company
within the first
year of full
operation.
“If one
looks at the bulk chemical
products that will be
coming out of this facility
alone, it is clear that there
is business to be done and
opportunities in the Middle
East,” said Pillay.
But, he said, it was
imperative that South
African companies
understood the operating
environment, especially the
customs procedures.
“The procedures are
extremely strict and having
the necessary knowledge as
well as the right people in
place is essential for success
in this market.”
INSERT & CAPTION
The region is
set on growing
and developing
relationships across
sub-Saharan Africa.
– Kreason Pillay