Bulk exports are on the rise, according to Junaide Lalgy, the managing partner at Transportes Lalgy LDA.“Our outlook for bulk is extremely positive,” he said. “Australian exports have been negatively impacted by China’s decision not to source from them, and this has had a positive impact on the demand and requirements from SA DC.”He said the Mozambican corridor remained one of the most cost-effective corridors through which to export bulk products.“Similarly, there is a demand for imports to be transported via Mozambique to South Africa due to the proximity and efficiency of the port and the road transport.”Lalgy told Freight News that the SADC in general was currently seeing good export performance thanks to the high commodity prices.“We have also seen higher demand internationally after the initial Covid-19 lockdowns and that has also boosted volumes.”He said commodity resources from the local market would remain in high demand from international markets, increasing bulk exports significantly.“The bottom line with all markets is quality, product availability and price. SADC meets all these requirements.”Furthermore, vehicle technology was allowing for efficient service delivery while also addressing fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions.“The strategy of the performance-based standards (PBS) vehicles is allowing additional volumes to be transported with less impact on the roads – ultimately reducing the number of trucks on the road. Thus, with a normal vehicle, you can transport 36t payload with the same, if not more impact on the road as a PBS vehicle carrying 45t payload. This has a direct impact on the transport costs for the transpor ter.”Lalgy said additional payload per unit resulted in an improved cost per ton and reduced kilometres as fewer vehicles were required to transport the product.“The world market has specialised service providers for the new technological trucks, however, in the SADC market, transporters still see the lack of these skills and service providers resulting in high maintenance costs. Often it results in transporters having to become self-reliant, even holding their spares and doing their own maintenance.”He said the company was busy implementing PBS to ensure it could effectively transport higher volumes per vehicle.Lalgy is also in the process of developing a new depot in Mozambique where it will incorporate new technology into the workshop and operations departments.“This will allow us to operate the entire logistics chain from one depot, improving our efficiencies and service levels to our clients,” said Lalgy. “We are also implementing an automated system that will allow our clients to identify the vehicles transporting cargo for them and they will be able to see where the trucks are at any given time. We have already incorporated a new tracking division to monitor and control all vehicles across our f leet, monitoring speed, location and any violations. "The Mozambican corridor remains one of the most cost-effective corridors through which to export bulk products.– Junaide Lalgy
