UNITRANS EXPERIENCING GROWTH IN THE  SADC

With 10 years behind them as sugar industry logistics innovators in SADC countries, Unitrans Sugar and Agriculture is positioned for the growth which its hard won momentum is bringing. The company’s footprint in Mozambique dates back to the turn of the 21st century when, as a logistics services provider, it shared the challenges of turning war-scarred sugar plantations into successful commercial operations with its clients Illovo Sugar and Tongaat-Hulett Sugar which took over the operation of the estates in a partnership with the Mozambique government.
 
In some cases, for Unitrans this meant operating aging fleets of loading and haulage vehicles and successfully coaxing a few more seasons out of them before new fleeting was an option.  Unitrans trained local people to fill its on-site depot requirements, enabling its clients to focus their attention on estate restoration and the growing and milling of sugarcane.

This willingness to shoulder large responsibilities and partner in their clients’ success has matured into long-term relationships in Mozambique at Maragra where Illovo Sugar is the managing partner.   Tongaat-Hulett Sugar at Xinavane and Mafambisse is also the managing partner in the estates’ operations.  During the 2010 sugar season Unitrans expects to load and transport almost two million tons of sugarcane to these estate mills in Mozambique, a step forward from last season’s 1,7 million tons.

In large operations such as these, there are operational challenges to overcome each season.  Unitrans however has committed itself to the goal of being a world class operator even on remote estates, and at Maragra during the 2009 season the company achieved a 100 percent sugarcane supply performance record.  

Increasingly, the company is also providing a growing range of agricultural services in Mozambique and other SADC countries where it operates.  These range from the clearing of uncultivated land and field preparation including laser levelling, to canal development and maintenance as well as ploughing, and fertilising. 

With its leadership role in Mozambique’s sugar logistics, Unitrans has negotiated an agreement with an international ethanol producing group. Unitrans is to do the land preparation as well as canal and drainage development on the 15 000 hectare estate in Mozambique’s Zambezi valley and is the preferred partner for haulage of approximately one million ton crop, made up of almost 50% each of sugarcane and sorghum, starting in July 2012.

On Illovo Sugar estates in neighbouring SADC countries, Unitrans also has a productive record.  Last year, in Malawi the company loaded and hauled 2,4 million tons at Nchalo and Dwangwa estates.  Unitrans transported 900 000 tons of sugarcane in Tanzania where it is also conducting a research project on chopper harvesting. 

Units of the Unitrans loading and haulage fleets at Maragra in Mozambique, where Unitrans earned a 100 percent sugarcane supply performance record, meaning that the Unitrans haulage fleet was not responsible for any milling interruptions during the season.