Tobacco specialist records steady volume growth

As the global crunch makes its
impact on transport volumes,
there is one commodity that
appears to be bucking the trend.
Tobacco warehousing specialist
Aquarius Shipping recorded a
spectacular year last year and expects
more of the same for the year ahead.
The company’s vast warehousing
facilities comprise 3 500m2 in
Durban and a whopping 29 500 in
Johannesburg.
It’s currently at full capacity,
says director Robert Poverello,
and all indications are that
volumes will continue at the
same level for the year ahead.
Aquarius diversified operations last
year, marketing excess capacity in
the tobacco off-season from March to
July. The company added cotton to its
product base during this period, but
will stick to tobacco as its number one
priority, says Poverello.
“It doesn’t look as if there will be
an off-season this year,” Poverello
told FTW. “Malawi had a record crop
in 2008, and all indications are that
it’s heading in the same direction this
year.”
In addition, regional port problems
resulted in a large volume being
redirected through Durban – a
further boost to the company’s local
warehousing operation.
Aquarius has steadily added capacity
over the past few years - three years
ago its facilities provided 6 000m2 of
space, two years ago it was up to 15 000,
with capacity almost doubled last
year to 29 500m2.
With Aquarius Shipping having
notched up 11 years of experience
in the tobacco industry, and the
directors Darrell Goodwin, Rod
Goncalves, Brian Fernandes and
Poverello offering in excess of
20 years’experience in the tobacco
market, the company recently
extended its operation globally and
opened offices in the UK and Antwerp.
Headed up by new director, Brian
Fernandes, the venture has already
proved successful, says Poverello.
The Antwerp warehousing base acts
as a hub for most of Europe as Durban
serves as a hub for Africa.
Further growth into Brazil and
India is currently being explored,
Poverello told FTW, adding that
the loyal customer base is what has
made such a huge impact on the
success of Aquarius Shipping over the
past 11 years.
Main export markets include China,
Korea, Turkey, the Philippines, Egypt,
Libya, Western and Eastern Europe
and the US.