Ziegler firmly focused on own offices in Africa

The establishment of own offices in Africa is still firmly on the radar for logistics major Ziegler South Africa. While there are no firm time lines, managing director Paul Lawrence told FTW that the undertaking made by Ziegler earlier this year was unchanged – and it was purely a question of ironing out the finer details. Ziegler’s entry into the SA market earlier this year was seen as the springboard for Africa growth, and six months down the line its objectives are well under way, says Lawrence. “Along with the DRC, which is a big market for us, we’ve seen growth into Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, and see significant future potential in Mozambique, particularly around Beira,” he told FTW. It’s a mix of projects and general cargo, with pharmaceuticals featuring strongly in its product mix. Ziegler’s Beitbridge office continues to provide the positive benefits of localised support, and the opening of an office at Groblersbrug is still pending. “We are assessing its viability in light of the benefits that Customs modernisation has brought to the table,” said Lawrence. In terms of future growth, Ziegler sees plenty of opportunity in both the project and general cargo sectors. “The DRC will continue to be a big market for us, but a lot of our clients are looking to grow their business in Zambia, and we will grow with those clients.” The biggest challenge, however, is roadfreight capacity. “There are a lot of fly-bynight operators offering rates that are unsustainably low, but when it comes to moving the cargo, they either have no truck available or they hike the rate. “We insist on using only reliable and reputable companies – and clients need to understand that that comes at a cost.” According to industry sources, rates for a load to the DRC, for example, can vary by as much as R 40 000 per load. “We make it clear to customers that you pay for what you get and people looking only at price can end up paying a lot more than they bargained for in the end. “It’s not only about price but about service as well, and that’s a message we drive home all the time.” CAPTION Paul Lawrence ... plenty of opportunity in both the project and general cargo sectors.