All articles by Gavin du Venage
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ArticleSafe and secure: How new warehouses will support African supply chains
Operating in Africa can be a big challenge, and the establishment of a new supply chain there even more so. The acquisition or construction of decent storage facilities, the recruitment of suitable staff and the need to contend with local laws are all potential barriers to setting up business. However, Agility Africa, aims to change this by providing a series of well-managed logistics facilities across the continent.
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ArticleEasing off the gas: Is the shipping industry ready for Sulphur 2020?
The IMO’s new regulation to cut sulphur emissions, which is coming into force next year, will require operational changes by ports and shipping lines. But some parts of the world are far from prepared.
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ArticleMena: Infrastructure, policy and regulatory developments
Much of the focus on China’s Belt and Road programme has been on trade routes between Europe and Asia, but Chinese organisations are also investing in African infrastructure.
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NewsSpate of violent attacks against trucks in South Africa threatens automotive industry
South African truckers will hold a ‘Black Friday’ protest on July 12 to highlight a series of attacks across the country that has destroyed hundreds of vehicles and left dozens dead and injured. More than 1,400 trucks have been destroyed or damaged in the past year, according ...
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ArticleRunning out of juice – will demand for battery materials outstrip supply?
As OEMs accelerate their EV programmes, there is growing concern that demand for battery materials will outstrip supply. Gavin du Venage considers the risks
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ArticleKenya halts import of used car parts
Kenya is enforcing a ban on the import of used vehicle spares in a bid to tackle the existing chaos in the trade of used cars and spares. However, the move could impact tens of thousands of unofficial dealers…
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ArticleSouth Africa's dream of an EV supply base
Despite negligible EV sales at home, South Africa is looking to become an exporter of their components and is putting an incentives scheme into place. But can it succeed?
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ArticleFord to export Ranger from Port Elizabeth
Ford South Africa is to begin using the port in the southern city of Port Elizabeth to export its locally assembled Ranger line, following unexpectedly high demand. This will alleviate pressure on its primary export port, Durban, on the east coast of the country. Nelson_Mandela_Stadium_in_Port_Elizabeth The company ...
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ArticleDocking defections
Nigeria has lost its claim to being home to the busiest port in West Africa as a consequence of chronic traffic congestion, corruption and inefficiency. The crown has passed from Apapa, in the state of Lagos, to the port of Lomé, in Togo. Data from Dynamar, a Dutch maritime intelligence ...
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ArticleElectricity crisis hits South Africa’s automotive industry
Rolling power cuts across South Africa are threatening the automotive logistics chain, as the country’s overburdened state electricity provider Eskom struggles to meet the needs of business. Vehicle sales are down as consumer confidence has fallen and automotive manufacturers are keeping production going by sacrificing non-essential plant functions. President and ...
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ArticleA billion reasons to try
For the past ten years, a rising number of Chinese OEMs have appeared on African roads. Bearing cheerful names such as Geely, Chery, Hafei, Chana and Foton, some managed to land on their feet and build a healthy presence. Others, though, have gone down face-first.Foton, a Beijing-based manufacturer that produces ...
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ArticlePeacing together new logistics
The end of a longstanding conflict in the Horn of Africa is set to create new pathways into one of the potentially richest automotive markets in the continent; after two decades, Eritrea and Ethiopia have concluded a conflict that has cost hundreds of thousands of lives. The catalyst for peace ...
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ArticleAfrica awakes
Africa’s vehicle production and distribution sector still trails much of the rest of the world, but the signs are that this is beginning to change
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ArticleVW chief warns of ‘immediate end to South Africa’s motor industry’ if incentives are reduced and ownership targets are enforced
Motor manufacturers will leave South Africa if the government reduces the current incentive scheme while moving to penalise them for a lack of black equity holders and suppliers, the head of Volkswagen’s operation in the country has warned.Volkswagen South Africa MD Thomas Schäfer said recent discussions with the government revealed ...
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ArticleAlternative logistics in Africa: The sky's the limit
Africa’s underdeveloped infrastructure and dangerous conditions are leading it to leapfrog other countries in adopting alternative freight technologies which might one day serve automotive logisticsAfrica’s infrastructure gap, which significantly hinders the movement of goods between and within countries on the continent, could soon be substantially filled through the use of ...
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ArticleSouth Africa: Flagging but still fighting
[sta_anchor id="1"]South Africa’s economy is battling problems, but its vehicle exports and role in global vehicle programmes mean it continues to attract investmentSouth Africa’s economy is in the doldrums. A rout in commodity prices has damaged consumer spending power. The country is skirting perilously close to having its debt rating ...
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ArticleSupply chain and mining are potential barriers to alternative powertrains
Most of the larger OEMs have made commitments for the coming years to increasing the amount of alternative powertrains within their production lineup. Electric vehicles are growing in appeal around the world and, as they do, so does the demand for a once-obscure group of specialist metals, which are vital ...
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ArticleClosing the gap in Africa
South Africa’s vehicle exports to the rest of the African continent, particularly on the west coast, continue to grow, presenting an opportunity for a variety of carriers who service the country’s main export hubs. However, despite the relative proximity of these markets to South African manufacturers, the logistics gap is ...
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ArticleMoving into an up-and-coming neighbourhood
While comparisons have been made between Australia and South Africa’s automotive industry, and concerns are growing, experts in the country believe the country has to take advantage of logistics and proximity to potential markets such as Nigeria.South Africa’s automotive industry could share a similar fate to Australia, where OEMs are ...
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ArticleAfrica potential and material cost key to South African survival
South Africa’s automotive industry could face significant declines should the market fail to address issues including a lack of supply chain localisation, high costs and logistics disadvantages. Despite close access to fast-growing African markets, speakers at the recent South African Automotive Week warned that the country could share a similar ...