Massive change and more ahead

Two megatrends have changed the face of South African trade since we started publishing FTW in 1973. Firstly, containerisation slashed the cost of moving products around the world to such an extent that it triggered a global revolution where production was taken over by the lowest cost producers, regardless of location. As a result South Africa saw factories close as we became dependent on imports while automotive component jobs increased as exports soared. Relatively inexpensive intermodal transport has been a cornerstone of the globalisation that has changed the world economy. The second trend is the improving fortunes of the African continent. In the post-apartheid era, South Africa has been handily placed to play a key role in developing the continent, which is likely to grow faster than other continents outside Asia for the foreseeable future. Once the pariah state, South Africa is grasping this opportunity of a fast-growing market on its doorstep with both hands. While increasingly sophisticated technology has created a virtually paperless trail, the physical movement of goods has been hampered globally by infrastructure that has not kept pace with growth – and some serious catching up will be necessary in the decade ahead. The same is true of skills development, where the challenge for South Africa is even greater than the rest of the world. Issues like carbon footprint will force more responsible consumerism, affecting China’s ascendancy while security issues will continue to dominate. This special feature offers the insights and perspectives of some of the industry’s key players. To our loyal readers and advertisers, we thank you for your support over the past 35 years and look forward to many more interesting years ahead.