Chinese SME forwarders eye emerging markets

China - China's small and medium size enterprises (SME) freight forwarders are looking to develop business in the emerging markets of Africa, Central Asia and Central Europe, said the top executive of China Logistics Club.

Henrik Christensen, chairman and CEO of the China Logistics Club said trade between China and Africa has grown by 43% per annum on a compound basis in the past five years, while trade between the two nations exceeded US$75 billion for the financial year 2007.

Christensen said, "With the falling freight rates and yield on the traditional Asia-Europe and transpacific routes, many of our members are now shifting their focus on to higher yielding markets, particularly Africa."

Christensen continued, "China has made significant investments in infrastructure projects and the manufacturing sector in Africa and the growth in that trade has been dramatic during the last two years. The same can be said of Central Asia where the new oil and gas industry has led to rapid growth in the regional economies and a corresponding increase in trade with China," he said.

The China Logistics Club will be co-organising the 6th International Freight Forwarders and Logistics Co-operation Forum in Ningbo, China from the 5 to 7 November, where speakers are expected to explore the shift in emphasis to new higher yielding markets such as China's and Africa.

Representatives from companies based in emerging markets such as Africa, Hungary, Russia and Kazakhstan are expected to meet at the forum.