Reload Aquarius Shipping International is set to expand its footprint in Mozambique, having embarked on an aggressive growth strategy.According to general manager Ivailo Gueorguiev, while the company has had a long-standing presence in Beira, plans are in place to grow operations.“We have invested significantly in our Beira office and are in the process of moving into a new 20 000-square-metre facility. This includes 12 000 sqm of warehousing as well as new offices and a large yard area.”He said sulphur was a new commodity into which the business had ventured recently on the Beira Corridor and was excited about the prospects. “We have handled some 50 000 tons over the past few months. Growing the volume of imports we handle is part of our strategy – and we are not just looking at sulphur but a range of other commodities. With this new facility in place, we are also targeting the export sector, particularly minerals and metals.”He said specialising in commodities like fertilisers and sulphur makes sense for operators on the Beira Corridor. “You have large amounts of input materials heading into the hinterland, and on the reverse you have the export of the semi-finished and finished goods.”He said there had been huge growth in the movement of copper as international demand had increased on the back of renewal energy drives and new mining projects within the SADC region.“Histor ic a lly, Beira has not seen the boom in sulphur that it is currently experiencing, but we are hoping that it is a commodity that is here to stay.”The increased sulphur volumes are being attributed to some of the congestion being experienced at other ports in the region, such as Richards Bay and Dar es Salaam. “Our goal is to ensure a service that adds value and gives cargo owners peace of mind, knowing their goods are handled well so that they opt to remain on this corridor and use the Port of Beira regardless of what happens at other ports,” said Gueorg uiev.Asked about tobacco, a commodity for which the company is renowned and in which it has a lot of expertise, Gueorguiev said it would remain part of the portfolio. “Our strategy is to extend our service offering and diversify our commodity range. Tobacco will continue to play an important role in our business.”With extensive experience in the Durban environment, Gueorguiev said it was important for cargo owners to look at a range of ports for the movement of their cargo rather than relying on just one port of entry.“Durban has its fair share of challenges. We believe Beira can play an important role in easing some of the pressure. It makes sense for clients to spread the load. If one just looks at the increase in demand for sulphur, then it is important to see why. This demand has created congestion all over and capacity is constrained.”He said the team’s prospects for Beira in the long term were growth. “We have a solid footprint in southern Africa and believe that Beira can increase the role it has played in our portfolio to date. We are investing the necessary capital and human resources to ensure we are able to offer the same level of service that we do elsewhere – and that we have the equipment and facilities in place. We believe that moving cargo along this route can be very beneficial to our clients. Cargo coming in from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe is best suited to move along the Beira Corridor in terms of distance.”He said the goal was ultimately to grow volumes while making the Beira operation bigger. “Tobacco has been our mainstay for many years. We see much potential in this corridor for other commodities as well. As long as this corridor continues to grow, we have plans to invest and grow our presence in Beira.”
