Specialised team targets minerals market

Africa is a major business playground for clearing, forwarding and shipping company, Aquarius Shipping International, according to director, Robert Poverello. “We conduct business all about the southern region, with a special emphasis on Zambia, the DRC, Malawi and the ports of Mozambique and SA,” he said, speaking from the new head office at Waterford Office Park in Fourways, Johannesburg. With a major core business in shipping copper oxide mined in the DRC, but transported via Zambia, Aquarius has just marked a new route for some of its cargo movement. It has just moved its first shipment of minerals from Zambia via the northern Mozambique port of Beira to China. “It was very successful under difficult time constraints,” said Poverello, “and we were pleased to get full tonnage shipped on board the nominated vessel.” This cargo connection is being nurtured by his fellow director, Rod Goncalves, who is heading up the ASI team formed to forge into the minerals market in Zambia and the DRC. “He is currently looking at opening a new office in Zambia as well as negotiating a large contract with one of the major mining houses,” Poverello told FTW. “We have also begun moving our first tobacco shipments from Zambia, which have run very smoothly so far.” This is added to by ASI also moving large volumes of tobacco from Tete to Beira for the first time – another project which Poverello felt had “proved very successful so far”. Another part of the Goncalves portfolio recently has seen him directing attention to the Mozambique ports. “We have just opened a small office there,” said Poverello, “and Rod (Goncalves) has been entrusted with the formation of another office in Beira which will open in January.” The Johannesburg arm of the business has also recently been dealing with major “Into Africa” cargo consignments. ASI has been handling large volumes of fertiliser through its warehouse facility in Johannesburg for end destination Malawi. And on the same trade route, the company has been moving polymers from SA to the Malawian city of Blantyre. The Durban operation has also been active, with ASI due to be moving into its new Durban warehouse this month – a facility situated five kilometres from the current airport. It has also recently been exploring new business areas, intent on overcoming some of the effects of the economic recession on trade volumes. “ASI has always been predominantly a tobacco forwarder,” said Poverello, “but we decided to expand our wings and enter into the handling of all commodities to sustain us during the quieter periods.”