*Signs Global Partnership Deals
One of the subsidiaries in Sifax Group, Sifax Shipping Company Limited has begun a direct Less-than-Container Load (LCL) export service to the United Kingdom.
Maritime Bits checks revealed that the move of the conglomerate which is involved in several sectors of the economy is expected to redefine outbound shipping from Nigeria,
Sifax Group in a statement by its Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Olumuyiwa Akande said the initiative is in partnership with Netcargo UK Limited, a subsidiary of the Net Cargo Group.
According to the statement which was made available to Maritime Bits, the move is a major breakthrough for Nigerian exporters, particularly small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), who have long grappled with the challenges of cross-border logistics, high costs, and delays caused by transshipment processes.
Giving an insight to the initiative, the conglomerate noted that the new export service allows Nigerian businesses to ship goods directly to the UK without routing through third-party countries.
The initiative, according to the statement, will significantly reduce turnaround time, cut costs, minimize risk, and improve the predictability of delivery schedules.
The General Manager, Groupage and Export Services at Sifax Shipping, Mr. Adekunle Owobamirin noted that the service would empower local businesses to compete more confidently on the international stage.
“This is one of the most important moves we’ve made in advancing our export portfolio. We’re now positioned to offer uninterrupted export services to the UK market, giving our clients the ease and confidence they need to grow their international trade volumes,” he said.
The conglomerate explained that in addition to the UK export service, Sifax Shipping has also entered into strategic partnerships with WSC Logistics and Shotto Logistics Limited to enhance its import operations. The deal enables shipments from countries like India and China to be routed directly through Sifax bonded terminals and warehouses in Nigeria. The collaboration, described as a third-party consolidator model, provides smaller logistics firms access to Sifax infrastructure and technical capabilities.
Owobamirin revealed that the initiative has already commenced with trial shipments in June, while full-scale operations ramped up in July.
“Our bonded warehouse operations have been upgraded to accommodate the surge in volume. The collaboration allows us to clear and dispatch cargo seamlessly, ensuring that goods keep moving and clients experience minimal delays,” he said.
He added that by improving direct export routes, especially to the UK, Nigerian businesses will benefit from reduced trade barriers and overall costs. He also noted that the increased import volumes through the new partnerships are expected to generate more employment opportunities and increase revenue for stakeholders across the logistics value chain.
