Damco, the newly rebranded logistics division of A.P. Møller-Maersk, revealed this week that it will expand its reach in Africa with the launch of a new office in Maputo, Mozambique, on 15 December.
The group, which has been operating in Mozambique since the beginning of 2008 to help support the land-locked countries of Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia, said that the move would help improve Damco's presence and service levels in south-east Africa.
'Beira (where the group's existing Mozambique office is located) is mainly serviced through feeder vessels via Durban and this generally implies longer transit times,' said Christian Roeder, Damco Mozambique country manager. 'We made a conscious decision to improve on this, ensuring that customers can both source and export directly through Maputo.
'The port has recently experienced an increasing number of shipping lines offering direct calls from the Far East, making it a great time for this expansion,' he added.
By opening up operations in Maputo, the group is aiming to offer a superior service to countries around Mozambique, as well as the capital city itself.
'We expect this to benefit both existing and potential customers in the region, and reaffirm Damco's commitment to Africa,' said Damco Africa head Nils Havsager.
