Global LCL specialist Leschaco has taken delivery of ten 24 000-25 000-litre chemical-grade ISO tanks to get the export business for its tank container division in Durban off the ground.
This is even before the newly formed division, headed up by tank container expert Hayley Love, has secured any shipments.
Love explained though that having tanks waiting in the depot was part of the company’s guarantee to clients.
“It’s not an ideal situation for any operation to bring in empty tanks because the operator absorbs those costs.
“But in order to get the export business off the ground we needed some sort of inventory here because it’s one thing to quote a customer and the client accepts, only to turn around and say ‘sorry but we don’t have anything available at the moment. We will only have tanks in the middle of February'."
So Leschaco, at the moment, is hard at work securing uptake for its offering.
Uptake, she said, would most likely be out east or into Northern Europe where inventory and space are still suitably balanced.
“We are trying to secure business into ports like Rotterdam and Antwerp as best we can. The rates getting in there are fairly good, and those destinations, from a space point, are well managed compared to other destinations that are really hard from a space perspective.”
One of the constrained destinations, Love emphasised, was Brazil – the origin of the tanks Leschaco has received.
Until the space constraints in Brazil and Argentina ease up, Leshaco will not concentrate on this area until we can guarantee space for imports and exports.
“We’re looking at destinations where inventory is a concern, not because levels are short but perhaps low, and consideration is going into sustaining inventory
"Plus, because there is space, we know that the tanks will get in and out without any delays.”
Such is Leschaco’s focus on fine-tuning management of tank availability that the company is awaiting a further three tanks coming in from the UAE in early February.
“We’re getting in import business already,” Love said.
"Even if it’s a fill tank, we’ve got the capacity to clean it and get it ready and expedite export on behalf of our clients.”
