Sifax Shipping Company and ECU Worldwide, through their subsidiary, FMA-Line Nigeria Limited, are set to transport the first less-than-container load (LCL) exports from Apapa port, Lagos, to the Antwerp hub on August 6.
The Antwerp hub of ECU Worldwide acts as a deconsolidation point in freight transit, from which consignment moves to various destinations across the globe via the ECU network.
ECU Worldwide has begun accepting consignments from exporters at the Ijora Bonded Terminal of SIFAX Group, to be shipped to international markets through Hapag-Lloyd shipping line service.
The Chief Executive Officer for the Middle East and Africa Region of ECU Worldwide, Rahul Rai, said the launch of the LCL consolidation service in Nigeria will enable the company to serve the unmet demand for cost-effective transportation and exports of low-value products and commodities, such as agricultural commodities, solid minerals, and oil production machinery for repair, across the world.
Rai noted that Nigeria’s richness in crops like cashew nuts and groundnuts provides small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) dealing in such commodities with large-scale, cost-effective global market access.
He expressed delight in the partnership with SIFAX to provide dedicated LCL export services from Nigeria to various global destinations.
“We offer a cost-efficient solution to exporters, primarily small and medium-sized businesses in Nigeria, with reduced shipping time and wider access to global markets. We aim to get a first-mover advantage in this region,” he said.
He explained that the company currently offers a track and trace facility for Nigerian exporters on ECU 360, its integrated digital tool for shipping.
Rai added that the company plans to launch services on the digital platform to help customers obtain freight quotes and book shipments online.
Additionally, Rai said the company has opened an office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to cater to companies in the oil and gas sector, and plans to expand its business further in the northern region, including cities like Abuja and Kano, to boost project and trading business as well as diplomatic and UN cargoes.
The Managing Director of SIFAX Logistics Company Limited, Paul Liden, said the LCL consolidation division at the Ijora Bonded Terminal is operating at full capacity, adding that the association with ECU Worldwide offers hassle-free and seamless freight transportation to businesses in the region.
