Volume growth signals mining uptick

Ongoing investment in new
trucks and trailers is paying
off for Swakopmund-based haulier
A van der Walt and its clients.
The first
quarter of 2017
has seen a
sudden growth
in volumes, says
founder André
van der Walt,
after a very quiet
last quarter of
2016. “Volumes
started picking
up in February
and we are now full.”
The company has seen
growth in container traffic from
Walvis Bay to Zambia and the
Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC) for all the shipping lines it
services, he says.
This is a good sign for the
economy of the region as it
indicates that the mines in
Zambia and the DRC are once
again ramping up production, he
adds.
“In addition to supplies
and equipment for mining
operations, there’s also been
an uptick in demand for
commodities
such as frozen
fish.
“Demand
comes from
both the mine
kitchens and
the workers
who now have
an income once
more.”
A The
company is one of the transport
pioneers in the export of frozen
fish from Walvis Bay to
neighbouring countries,
according to Van der
Walt.
And while it
has refrigerated
trucks, he prefers
using reefers as
they reduce the
risk of losses
over the thousands
of kilometres between the
port and destinations such as
Lubumbashi and Kasumbalesa
in the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC).
“There are often delays at
the border and the reefers
have better insulation and can
maintain the temperature for
longer,” he says.
In addition to new trucks and
trailers, the company has also
purchased reach stackers and
side-loaders.
INSERT AND CAPTION
We have seen an uptick in
demand for commodities
such as frozen fish.
– André van der Walt