Volumes for Zim growing along Trans-Kalahari Corridor

Trade volumes for Zimbabwe via Walvis Bay have increased significantly to more than 2 500 tons a month, according to Agnetha Mouton, marketing and communications manager for the Walvis Bay Corridor Group. Vehicle importers are helping to establish the route, and at present make up the larger portion of this trade. “Customers in Zimbabwe have found a shorter and safer alternative to transport their vehicles to the local market. “This new trade route for vehicles has provided immense benefit to the Zimbabwe market in terms of getting their vehicles much sooner to their destination.” The movement of used vehicles from the UK into Zimbabwe keeps hitting new records in terms of volumes, according to Mouton. “At the same time the movement of used vehicles has also started to open this trade route for other commodities such as consumables, construction materials and equipment. “More and more importers, exporters, logistics companies, traders and shipping companies are using Walvis Bay and the Trans-Kalahari Corridor (TKC) as their new trade route, especially when trading with Europe and the Americas,” she says. Despite the hype around China and visible presence of Chinese in the capital city, Zimbabwe’s biggest trade partners remain the United States, Britain and countries in the European Union. Exports to these countries through the TKC include nickel and agricultural products such as spices, coffee and tea, tobacco and hides and skins. “The TKC offers the Zimbabwe market a sailing time of approximately 18-21 days from Walvis Bay to the US, and a transit time of about three to four days.” This represents a saving of up to a week compared to the eastern ports, she says. Zimbabwean imports moving along the corridor include frozen poultry and spare parts, in addition to vehicles. “Once again, it is clear that this route offers reliability and security in addition to cost and time savings,” she said. Major imports from the US to Zimbabwe include machinery, pharmaceutical products, vehicles and medical equipment. In 2009 Namibia granted Zimbabwe about 19 000 sqm of land to construct its own dry port, aimed at providing the Zimbabwe market with sufficient and dedicated space for all their imports and exports at the port of Walvis Bay. INSERT & CAPTION The movement of used vehicles has also started to open this trade route for other commodities such as consumables, construction materials and equipment. – Agnetha Mouton CAPTION Second-hand trucks lined up on the quayside in Walvis Bay which has become a major gateway for the importation of used vehicles in the SADC region.