Shippers re-examine traditional hubs

Against a background

of escalating costs for

cargo moving through the

Beitbridge border, shippers

are re-examining traditional

logistics chains.

“The costs of transiting

Zimbabwe are astronomical,”

says Ziegler South Africa

regional manager, Marlene van

der Merwe. “Not to mention the

recently implemented ban on

imports from South Africa.

“Each government department

wants to make money and this

is affecting many transporters’

pockets. A lot of them have

turned to the Groblers Bridge

border for transits to Zambia –

which was a big motivator for

our decision to open an office at

that border post.”

Despite the weak global

economy and commodities

slump, Ziegler has recorded

steady growth over the past

two years and expects the trend

to continue into 2017. This

thanks to domestic demand and

improved supply conditions.

Van der Merwe sees Mozambique

and DRC as markets of potential

growth. “DRC has huge potential

in agricultural growth, but due

to lack of investment this has not

materialised.”

CAPTION

The Groblers Bridge border.