Logistics company Rangel Logistics Solutions, which entered the South African market in 2020, has made an additional investment of €6-million, or R125.6-million, in a warehouse in South Africa.

The new warehouse is part of its commitment to help Africa realise the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement, says Rangel South Africa country manager Tiago Pocinho.

Additionally, the company will also open a new office in Nakop, on the border with Namibia, which will augment its current presence in Tanzania and Zambia.

The new warehouse will cover an area of 10 000 m² near the OR Tambo International Airport and will serve as a central hub for Rangel's expanding Contract Logistics offering.

The facility also provides bonded storage, divided into an Operating Store Bond Store for goods storage up to 24 months and a Special Operating Store Bond Store for storage up to six months, as well as cross-docking services.

While in the bonded warehouse, goods are exempt from duties and charges that are payable only upon release for final destination.

The new warehouse is expected to create at least 160 new jobs and Rangel CEO Nuno Rangel anticipates further growth in line with the contract logistics gains.

The warehouse will enhance Rangel’s South Africa logistical capabilities while facilitating trade between neighbouring markets, such as Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Rangel’s primary focus since entering South Africa has been on transportation and cross-border logistics, as it sought to establish a presence at key border points. Having achieved this, the company is now strengthening its footprint in the logistics sector, he adds.

“We are becoming a benchmark in transport for the mining sector in the main logistics corridors of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

“From the DRC to the main ports, Beira, Dar es Salaam, Durban and Walvis Bay, we are carrying out highly demanding and complex operations, especially in the transport of copper, including cathodes and concentrate, cobalt hydroxyde and zinc,” adds Rangel.

Rangel has opened four offices on the main South African borders since 2020 and expanded its presence to Zambia in 2021 and Tanzania in 2022, bringing the total investment in the three countries to €7-million.

In total, the international operation represents about 20% of the company's turnover, with South Africa accounting for 8%.

“We want to be an African company that not only helps connect the SADC to Europe, but also facilitates trade among African countries.”