Zim specialist records buoyant export growth

CRIPPLING FOREIGN currency shortages
aside, export volume growth into crisis ridden
Zimbabwe continues to thrive with new highs for a
Johannesburg-based transporter and forwarder.
Zimbabwe’s national requirement of US$4.5bn
in foreign currency has been left hanging, with
only US$1.5bn generated each year, according to
Zimbabwean Minister of Economic development
Sylvester Nguni. Despite the economy performing
below 30% efficiency, northbound consignments
from South Africa have blossomed.
“Northbound volumes are at their best in
nine years, though the southbound route has
experienced reduced volumes of Zimbabwean
exports,” says Mark Green of Leo Shipping Services.
Access to foreign exchange plays a key role in
influencing trade with South Africa, with revisions
to the Zimbabwean currency valuation and
increased duties for imported goods acting as
hindrances to greater growth, explains Green.
“Border delays are our biggest operational
problem, but we have made greater efforts in
recent months to ensure that the Zimbabwean
importer or clearing agent has the required import
documentation so that duties are in place prior to
despatching cargoes from Johannesburg.”
Consolidations are currently experiencing a
three to four day clearing delay at the borders,
while rising diesel prices in both countries have
negatively affected road transport costs into the
country..
Fuel in Zimbabwe is a wholly imported
commodity, and according to Nguni the country
requires 300m litres of diesel and 100m litres
of petrol per day, and at best the National Oil
Company of Zimbabwe can only supply a third of
that.
But Green is optimistic about the outlook
for his company. “We are confident that our
consolidation loads will increase from the current
two to three per week as more and more smaller
orders and consignments are placed on SA exporters
by the Zim buyers.”
The company recently purchased a new 10
tonner closed van body truck and intends to add a
further 1-2 similar vehicles in coming months.