FOR THOSE in container logistics, the interesting trend of the moment is the growth in traffic volumes this year, according to Lawrie Bateman, director of MSC Logistics.
Both north and southbound, he said, there's been a distinct increase in both export and import cargo.
And Bateman sees his company as a good barometer of the overall market. We're a third-party barometer, he told FTW. If our clients' volumes are going up - then so is the market.
Overall, we're looking at a 30% increase over last year - and we hope this will continue.
This, Bateman added, after a pretty flat first-half last year. From the middle of 1999, however, it has been on the way up - a trend that has continued into this year.
The whole shipping industry is now doing much better.
In this optimistic scenario, MSC Logistics has been busy developing the overborder section of its container operating network.
We have just opened an office in Botswana, he told FTW, adding to those already established in Swaziland and Lesotho.
The reason for this, Bateman added, is better control of traffic - as opposed to having outside agents. In the Botswana development we've already seen results, with good growth this year.
The container traffic with Zimbabwe, however, has been anything but good in recent times, according to Bateman. They've just gone down the drain, he said. Traffic down to about 45% of a year ago.
But the opposite applies in Zambia. That market is opening up, said Bateman. We have representation there under the MSC banner, and we are seeing a big improvement - both north and southbound.
The reason for this has been the selling off of the country's previously para-statal mining industry. This, said Bateman, has been on hold till everything was finalised. But now, project and container traffic are both beginning to flow - and further future development can be expected.
And, while very small tonnages of copper have been flowing south, this has also begun to pick up over the last month.
MSC Logistics is also still dealing with the Democratic Republic of the Congo - but on a bit of a stop-start basis, according to Bateman.
It'll probably remain low-key there until all the latest political problems are sorted out.
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