AFRICAN SUGAR BUSINESS SWEET  FOR UNITRANS SUGAR & AGRICULTURE

A little less than a decade ago, as the world celebrated the turn of the century  Unitrans Sugar & Agriculture strategists were looking north across our neighbours’ borders. Having firmly entrenched their place in the South African sugar logistics market over the previous few decades, it was only natural that Unitrans follow key corporate customers into the challenging, but fruitful environs of developing third world African countries.

Since those late nineties and early 2000, Unitrans Sugar and Agriculture has not only ventured into these markets but has earned a reputation for dependability, resourcefulness and a willingness to learn and adapt from the continent’s many challenges.  The company has willingly taken on a wide range of logistics responsibilities on large corporate sugar estates to the extent that the success and flow of the customers’ milling operations depend in large measure on Unitrans’ performance.  Unitrans’ flagship operations include Kilombero in Tanzania, Mafambisse, Maragra and Xinavane in Mozambique; and Nchalo and Dwangwa in Malawi.

This wealth of experience that Unitrans has accumulated and shared in partnership with key customers such as Tongaat-Hulett and Illovo, has made it  an obvious first choice candidate for further expansion projects.  Even now, as the South African market, and indeed the global economy staggers in depression, the synergies that exist between Unitrans and their key corporate customers, enable both to grow with the opportunities that exist in cross-border Africa.

A decade ago, the first steps into the African states would have been cautiously made.  Today entrance into these challenging markets has proven to be a sound step.  Unitrans has participated  in these sugar industry growth opportunities and is well-positioned as a viable partner in future anticipated development.  Persistence, resourcefulness and close partnership with its clients have been some of the key ingredients in success in these African operations.   Unitrans’ willingness to adapt and learn from hardship has served it well and will no doubt play an important role in the anticipated growth of the company’s African service footprint.

Indeed, for the hardy individuals of the ‘diesel and dust’ division, the African sugar business has been…and still looks…sweet.

Unitrans at work.  High flotation Unitrans landtrain technology at Nchalo sugar estate in Malawi.