Direct LCL services offer comprehensive coverage

Whether it’s the strong
rand, the World Cup, the
end of the recession or
simply aggressive sales and
service, for independent
groupage operator CFR
Freight, volumes out of
the Far East have been
exceptional – and the
outlook is equally positive,
says managing director
Martin Keck.
“Imports from the Far
East have gone through
the roof over the past few
months,” says Keck.
“The fact that shipping
lines were unable to
implement a peak season
surcharge tells you that
overall volumes are not
there. Perhaps we are in a
fortunate niche where FCL
turns into LCL business.”
Strong volumes from
China may also be related
to the upcoming festive
season, with people
stocking up early because of
the strong rand, says Keck.
Whatever the reason,
the volumes are good
– and CFR’s direct
services cover the region
comprehensively, serving
Hong Kong, Shenzhen,
Xiamen, Shanghai, Ningbo,
Qingdao, Tianjin and
Guangzhou from China as
well as other direct services
from Korea, Japan, Taiwan,
Singapore and Thailand.
Director Peter Schmidt-
Löffler believes an
aggressive sales drive has
been a large contributor
to the company’s success
in retaining and securing
business. “We’ve been
pushing on sales and
focusing strongly on
customer service.”
Rate and service stability
are crucial, says Keck.
“While shipping lines may
be dropping rates because
of capacity issues, our focus
is on providing a stable
service and offering clients
added value features like
speedy documentation and
data flow through EDI.”
The last three months of
the year are traditionally
very strong months, says
Schmidt-Löffler, and this
year is expected to be no
different.
“On the export side
it’s less to do with the
Christmas rush but rather
related to the builders’
holidays affecting the
manufacturing industry as
well,” says Keck.
“People are emptying
their warehouses before
December 15.”
Looking back on the
year as a whole, business
has been better than
expected – and both Keck
and Schmidt-Löffler are
confident of more of the
same for 2011.