Maersk sees thicker line in Africa

MAERSK LINE   SHIPPING   AFRICA  

Global - Maersk Line is expecting more volume on African routes than other mature markets despite its low starting point, according to the company's VP for Africa trades.

Driven by consumer goods and machinery, containerised imports are still topping exports by three to one, Anders Boenaes, VP of Africa trades for Maersk Line said.

However, the market is still expected to underperform other emerging markets like Brazil and China, Fresh Plaza reported.

The shipper and its South African subsidiary Safmarine want to retain their strong market share in Sub-Saharan Africa, even as annual African container trade volume hardly matched the weekly throughput on the biggest global trade routes between Asia and Europe.

Maersk Line's chief executive said it was looking to service Africa and Latin America with ships sailing directly from Asia. African ports will however need smaller vessels as they are shallower than those in Asia and Europe.

The company will be taking the delivery of 22 small and medium-sized container ships to replace time charters before 2013.

Meanwhile, boxship exports from Africa are expected to continue lagging behind imports until valuable industries emerge in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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