Logistics: Operators in Standby Mode

Importers and traders Mauritian begin receiving products for Christmas and New year in Port Louis in mid-November. They will have plenty of time to place them on the shelves of retail outlets or distribute to dealers across the island.

What volume of containers transported in this period? According to Julien Audibert, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company Freight & Transit Limited (FTL), there is "a contraction of the market and most importantly, a less good 'mood'" compared to the same period last year . " Business seems more difficult , "he concedes.

Over the last three months of 2012, goods worth a total of Rs 44.7 billion were imported. If an overall increase of 6.2% was recorded compared to the same period last year, it remains to be seen, for this end of 2013, what is the trend, especially in relation to three items classification related to year-end festivities Products: Food and live animals , the Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material and Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles covering, among other things, shoes and clothing.

Vishal Nunkoo CEO Velogic, which belongs to Rogers Group, feels the same way. It provides a decline this year, based on both the current economic situation and the 'feedback' traders that there has been a reduction in sales. He added that imports for the holiday season are expected to continue until the end of November.

Elvis Pazot, manager Damco Logistics (Mauritius) Ltd, says, meanwhile, have " seen some increase in import volumes, the last two months, compared to the same period last year . " However, it remains to be seen whether this trend will continue. " With the Treaty that Mauritius has signed with Turkey, there is some increase in import activities between our two countries. This line could be a positive development , "he says.

Lower sales

The free trade between Mauritius and Turkey possible, since 1 st June, import duty free shopping of products from Turkey. On the shelves of supermarkets, bars of soap, shampoo and other cosmetics from that country have emerged.

On supplies of traditional countries like China, Elvis Pazot believes it could also be that importers wait until the last minute to complete their orders for the holidays. A wait that our interlocutor attributed to the combined uncertainty of the economy and economic growth still below expectations effects.

Some importers with whom he works told him to have suffered losses of 15% to 20% of their sales in recent months. Asked about the factors that might explain this trend, the CEO of FTL believes that " the economy is worse " : "The tourism sector suffers, the short-term outlook is not good and in this context of uncertainty, People are spending less. "

For his part, Vishal Nunkoo notes that the level of supply sources, new trends are emerging on Asian countries of origin of the goods for the coming holiday season.

Shipping companies apply surcharges

Analyzing the evolution of freight rates at this time of year-end, Julien Audibert, Chief Executive Officer of the Company Freight & Transit Limited (FTL) says that shipping companies apply from the beginning of September, the 'peak season surcharge' which is an amount between 150 and U.S. $ 200 per TEU. In technical jargon forwarders, one TEU means a 'twenty-foot equivalent', a container twenty feet long. Additional fees charged by shipping companies on a 20-foot container so turn around Rs 4500 to Rs 6000. This additional cost is in most cases transferred through price increases to consumers at the end of the chain.

Elvis Pazot, manager Damco Logistics (Mauritius) Ltd., notes that no other overload is scheduled for the coming months due to a surplus of space on board ships carrying containers on routes between the Asia and the southern part of Africa, passing through Port Louis.