Zambian specialist offers solution for empty container shortage

RAY SMUTS
DOING BUSINESS in Zambia is not without its headaches, as Celtic Freight’s Adrian Friend can bear witness, but the outlook is positive.
“Zambia’s economy is continuing to grow
on a slow but steady plane and it is an ideal country for legitimate investment, presenting enormous opportunities.”
He says one of the problems currently facing hauliers/forwarders is that no empty containers are available for Zimbabwe due to the demise of much of its tobacco industry.
Furthermore, shipping lines are still charging “exorbitant” deposits and demurrage for their containers to go over border, but Celtic has been able to unpack cargo into its own containers, thereby proving a great saving for forwarders and their customers.
Congestion at Beit Bridge is still a headache, with no improvement in sight, and Friend believes delays are going to cause a “ripple effect” of increased costs
to hauliers en route.
On a brighter note, Zambian tobacco has almost come in line with expected export tonnages, the mines are producing a steady flow of cargo to and from the Copperbelt, road rates have become more reasonable and traditional cargo such as coffee, cotton, timber and copper are setting the rates and structures once again.
Celtic’s Durban depot and offices are complete, an operation providing the forwarding industry with a one-stop consolidation service to Zambia, direct
to Lusaka or the Copperbelt.
The company’s Johannesburg depot, offering full and empty container handling facilities, weighbridge and bonded store, continues to provide an unpacking service.