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08/21/2023
Growing with the opportunities

Economic growth is stagnating or even declining in many places, but in the Asia Pacific region, it is surprisingly strong. DACHSER is greatly expanding its network there for customers from all over the world.

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08/21/2023
Strides on a long road 

Assuming a valuable role in mitigating climate change is both a central responsibility and a challenge for logistics providers. Transport and warehousing are energy-intensive and have a large carbon footprint; one reason is that zero-emission trucks are not yet available in sufficient numbers. But technological change is already in full swing. Michael Kriegel, Department Head DACHSER Chem Logistics, describes the potential that can be utilized and the role logistics can play in protecting the climate.

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08/21/2023
Overcoming Africa’s logistics challenges: Dachser South Africa's approach to customs 

Trade is the lifeblood of any economy, and the smooth operation of customs and trade procedures is critical. However, logistics companies moving goods across the African continent face a unique set of challenges. These include inadequate road and rail networks, poor infrastructure, excessive official and unofficial roadblocks, significant border delays and complex customs and excise. A lack of coordination among multiple government agencies often results in inefficiencies and bottlenecks that hinder the smooth flow of goods across borders.

The establishment of a single market has introduced new distribution systems for customs and excise revenue, which has necessitated adjustments from logistics companies. The secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement launched an interim trading arrangement with eight qualifying countries (Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania and Tunisia) to test the agreement’s provisions while negotiations are ongoing. Although trading under the AfCFTA started in January 2021, commercially significant trade has yet to happen, primarily due to the delayed Phase 1 negotiations on trade in goods and services such as the negotiations on Rules of Origin (RoO).

Regional integration arrangements further complicate matters. For example, the coexistence of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) poses specific challenges. Intensive documentation requirements, samples for laboratory analysis, complex tariff classification, and valuation delays are some other hurdles that affect trade facilitation.

In this challenging environment, logistics companies play a pivotal role. DACHSER South Africa has been successfully navigating these complexities for over forty years, providing comprehensive logistics and customs management solutions that ensure the smooth movement of goods.  “Our commitment is to provide our clients with a holistic and seamless solution and we see ourselves as an extension of their businesses.  This means that we take care of all aspects of the transportation, including customs, storing, handling and the safe delivery of goods from origin to destination.” 

To deal with customs challenges, DACHSER focuses on compliance, transparency, and adaptability, says DACHSER Managing Director Detlev Duve. "Compliance with local and international customs regulations is essential, requiring a detailed understanding of these laws and regulations. Transparency in operations helps build trust with authorities and clients, while adaptability allows logistics companies to adjust to changing regulations and market conditions."

In order to avoid significant time delays and unforeseen cost implications, Duve says it’s vital that companies involved in international trade understand and comply with changing regulations and requirements. However, getting to grips with regulatory environments be challenging for companies and divert resources away from core business priorities, making a trusted logistics partner an essential part of doing business.

Duve says DACHSER's teams are well-versed in customs regulations and procedures. “We ensure compliance with customs requirements, including correct classification and documentation, which can save customers considerable time. Understanding Incoterms and maintaining a good working relationship with local customs authorities are key components of our approach. We further consider where costs can be saved or passage expedited. For example, certain processes could entitle an importer or exporter to claim back a percentage of duties paid to customs.” 

Customs developments have also created some opportunities for logistics companies and clients to streamline their operations.  For example, in South Africa, the government has introduced measures such as accredited client statuses for those registered for customs and excise activities.

Global logistics operations like DACHSER are also able to fully leverage technology to improve their customs handling processes. “Our digital tools assist in accurately calculating duties, tracking shipments, and ensuring documentation is correctly filed, reducing the risk of errors and delays,” says Duve.

DACHSER South Africa also offers value-added solutions for clients such as bonded storage, which allows cargo to be stored for up to two years, improving cash flow for importers. The company further provides an option for clients when a portion of imported goods will be directly exported, sparing them from having to pay duty and VAT twice. “If the client does not need to clear the entire shipment, DACHSER South Africa will clear the goods directly into our bond store and no duty or VAT will be paid until the cargo is moved out,” Duve explains. “If a portion of the stock needed to go to an African country, we would move this out with a bonded truck to that country, where the cargo would be cleared.” 

While the customs landscape in South Africa and Africa presents formidable challenges, logistics companies like DACHSER South Africa have found ways to navigate these complexities and deliver excellent service to their customers. Now more than ever, the value derived from using an experienced logistics provider in Africa can lead to significant cost savings.

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07/31/2023
The new DACHSER magazine is here!

Experts estimate that digital connectivity will reach a data volume of 400 trillion gigabytes as early as 2030. Whether or not that happens, one thing’s for sure: data collection and processing are increasingly determining and changing the way we live and work. And one other thing is true: handling data responsibly makes life easier and offers many opportunities. Especially in logistics.

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DACHSER South Africa

03/13/2024
Ahead with foresight
Logistics - that also means accepting and mastering challenges again and again. Especially when things get difficult. That is why we at DACHSER are approaching 2024 with great confidence and drive, even though we are still confronted with weak, volatile markets and rising costs. Thoughts by CEO Burkhard Eling.
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03/13/2024
Purchase of Frigoscandia completed
Effective today, Frigoscandia AB is a wholly owned subsidiary of DACHSER and thus part of the logistics provider’s Food Logistics network. This also marks the start of the Scandinavian company’s full integration into the DACHSER network. From now on, customers in the Nordic countries will benefit from uniform quality standards.
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01/11/2024
Logistics 2030 – People make the difference

Logistics is a complex interplay between flows of goods and information in intelligent networks. People are and remain the key to their success and reliability. The maxim “Logistics is People Business” has many faces—in DACHSER’s overall strategy as well as in the everyday life at the family-owned company. 

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01/11/2024
"We are entering the new year with confidence"

Burkhard Eling, CEO of DACHSER, looks back on the year 2023, which was characterized by overcapacity, rising inflation and volatile conditions for the industry - in short: the special boom in logistics has come to an end. Nevertheless, there is good reason to start 2024 full of confidence and thirst for action.

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11/28/2023
DACHSER takes full control of joint venture in South Africa 

DACHSER has acquired the remaining 30 percent of shares in DACHSER South Africa and is now the sole owner of the Johannesburg-based country organization.  

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09/19/2023
Golden Week 2023 in China

During September 29 and October 06, most business and factories in China will be closed. The week-long holiday in one of the world’s most important economies poses an impact to the international supply chain. Start to prepare now to minimize the possible disruptions.

What is Golden Week?

Golden Week is a 7-day or 8-day national holiday in China. Every year the Chinese celebrate the establishment of the People’s Republic of China on October 01. This year, Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 29 and will combine with National Day Golden Week for a long, 8-day holiday from September 29 to October 06. Traditionally, Chinese people used to take the opportunity to travel for leisure and visit their families in other parts of China.
DACHSER in China, like many other businesses, will be closed during the Golden Week and resume normal operations on October 7.

What will happen during Golden Week?

Most businesses and factories will be closed during the week-long holiday, meaning that production will be at halt. Airports and seaports will keep operating but with reduced manpower due to low production volume from factories. Normally government institutions such as customs offices will be closed from October 01 – 03.
Since China, one of the world’s biggest economies and production countries, will come to a standstill for a whole week and factories may not run at full capacity as soon as the official holiday ends, the plunge of production volume would have an impact to the worldwide supply chain.

How to minimize the impact of Golden Week?

While we try our best to minimize any possible interruptions to your supply chain, you can also help us by considering the following:

Communicate with your suppliers and customers to make arrangements for sufficient stock and manage expectations

Discuss your planning with us and prepare an accurate shipment forecast for long-term planning, so we can offer you the most suitable solution that fits your budget and schedule

Place your booking earlier and pay attention to the cut-off dates.

For sea freight, it is recommended to book 4-6 weeks before the start of holiday

For air freight, it is recommended to book 1-2 weeks before the start of holiday

If you have any questions, please get in touch with your usual local DACHSER contact who will be happy to assist and plan the next steps with you together.

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06/02/2023
Corporate Compliance - Integrity is a question of attitude

"Integrity in Logistics" is the self-imposed moral commitment of the major family-led company DACHSER. It is based upon respect for society, its citizens and their norms, which must be respected, followed and upheld. This is done both as part of our daily work as well as in our interactions with others.

DACHSER Compliance Management covers both the internal company Code of Conduct as well as the DACHSER conduct guidelines. These mandatory rules and guidelines clearly specify that all DACHSER employees are to act ethically and legally in carrying out their tasks and services and consistently adhere to national laws. This also applies to the customs, traditions and societal values of each state and society.

If you would like to play an active part in supporting the DACHSER Compliance Management System or report potential misconduct, you are welcome to use our compliance reporting system supportDACHSER.

Compliance Statement of the Executive Board of DACHSER Group SE & Co. KG

A resilient compliance management system is an important pillar for maintaining integrity, also and especially in times of global challenges.

Once again, people are being shown that they do not always have everything one hundred percent under control. The worldwide exceptional situation of the pandemic can only be influenced to a limited extent by political or economic interests. International supply chains seem to be out of control. Especially in such a situation, it is important to give people the necessary confidence that their basic supplies will be maintained. Global supply chains are under enormous pressure because they form the backbone of any supply.

DACHSER is facing up to all these developments. With our global logistics network and our sophisticated systems, we are excellently equipped to meet the challenges ahead.  In times of reinventing delivery strategies and the general fear of further escalation in the market, we at DACHSER never lose sight of the most important piece of the mosaic: the people. Each of us has it in our hands to make our individual contribution in the interest of all. At the same time, especially in times like these, people long for a sense of trust and security. A shared understanding of values certainly makes a significant contribution to fulfilling this longing.   

Our compliance motto "Integrity in Logistics" not only provides our own employees with guidance for acting in accordance with our DACHSER values. Rather, our business partners can also align themselves with this strong foundation. Together, we thus form the basis for trusting cooperation in line with the traditional ideals of the honorable businessman. 

In addition, we are sending out another signal to express our value-based actions: DACHSER has used the past year intensively to expand the options it previously made available for reporting compliance violations. With supportDACHSER all persons now have a technically supported option for reporting in addition to the analog contact channels. The highly secure system offers full anonymity and complies with all relevant data protection requirements. In this way, both internal employees and external third parties are enabled to report potential integrity violations to the DACHSER Compliance Office without fear of reprisals.

Even in times of great challenges Compliance does not take a break. With "Integrity in Logistics" we are always at the side of our business partners as a reliable partner.

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06/02/2023
DACHSER to establish a joint venture in Japan

DACHSER has signed a joint venture agreement with the Japanese logistics company Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd. “DACHSER Japan K.K.” will open its first office in Tokyo at the end of 2023.

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06/02/2023
DACHSER Life Science and Healthcare receives GDP certification

The logistics provider has undergone good distribution practice (GDP) audits at its sites in Frankfurt, Madrid, Barcelona, and Mumbai, as well as at the Head Office in Kempten. An independent institute certified that DACHSER complies with the specifications relating to safe and secure transport chains in the pharmaceutical sector.

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06/02/2023
First insights into the DACHSER platform

DACHSER is transferring its range of logistics services to the digital world. As a company-wide digitalization project, the DACHSER platform is a central building block for fundamentally redesigning the customer experience. At the transport logistic trade fair, customers and interested parties were given their first glimpse of the platform, which will be available to all DACHSER customers from 2024.

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DACHSER Corporate

03/18/2024
DACHSER, myclimate, and terre des hommes agree on a climate action program
DACHSER, the climate protection organization myclimate, and the children’s rights organization terre des hommes have agreed to enter into a long-term collaboration. Together, the international logistics provider and the nonprofit organizations will launch new climate action projects worldwide and expand existing initiatives. An agreement to this effect was signed in December 2023.
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03/04/2024
Purchase of Frigoscandia completed

Effective today, Frigoscandia AB is a wholly owned subsidiary of DACHSER and thus part of the logistics provider’s Food Logistics network. This also marks the start of the Scandinavian company’s full integration into the DACHSER network. From now on, customers in the Nordic countries will benefit from uniform quality standards.

Read
03/04/2024
Ahead with foresight

Logistics - that also means accepting and mastering challenges again and again. Especially when things get difficult. That is why we at DACHSER are approaching 2024 with great confidence and drive, even though we are still confronted with weak, volatile markets and rising costs. Thoughts by CEO Burkhard Eling.

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03/01/2024
Statement of the DACHSER Executive Board

Right-wing extremist ideas and intolerance are not compatible with DACHSER’s values. The DACHSER Executive Board therefore takes a clear stance against all forms of political extremism.  

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11/18/2019
DACHSER South Africa celebrates 40 years as the gateway to Africa

DACHSER South Africa (SA) celebrates 40 years of being in business this November. When global logistics provider DACHSER acquired Jonen Freight, owned by the Duve family, in 2011, the newly minted DACHSER SA strengthened its global network, bringing over 30 years of established expertise in Africa to the company. Under the leadership of Managing Director Detlev Duve, DACHSER SA has further established itself as the gateway to Africa, dealing with diverse logistics needs across the various trade lanes and growing the team and the business in the face of a very challenging economic environment.

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05/14/2019
Dachser in Africa - the family business grows its global network

Growing logistics provider Dachser has more employees than at any other point in its history: some 30.603 people around the world are employed by the family-owned company based in Kempten, Germany. Dachser South Africa is home to 240 of these employees working across four branches, involved at any given time in connecting the flow of commodities, information, and transport companies with each other.

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06/03/2021
“A high degree of stability and reliability”

Even if concrete forecasts are currently difficult, there is cause for cautious optimism. CEO Burkhard Eling on initial trends and an outlook for 2021.

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08/14/2019
DACHSER South Africa perfects the art of picking and packing

As a fundamental part of the supply chain, picking and packing is fast growing into a sophisticated, intelligent process. This is due to client demands that necessitate logistics companies in having detailed understanding of complex product specificities and requirements when storing and moving these goods across geographical distances.

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06/11/2019
DACHSER Logistics – going green in the city

New emission-free logistics solutions are being pioneered by global logistics company DACHSER in cities across Europe. The pilot projects build on new electromobility concepts and adapts city logistics processes to tomorrow’s needs, offering bright prospects for emissions- and traffic-plagued city centers across the globe, including in Africa – where DACHSER is building a strong network from South Africa.

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10/03/2017
DACHSER South Africa recognised for leading in skills development

At the 29th Logistics Achiever Awards ceremony held on Thursday evening, 2 November at Montecasino in Fourways, Gauteng, DACHSER SA scooped a Silver category award for leading in skills development.

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11/08/2019
Calling Education learners explore careers in logistics with DACHSER South Africa

Calling Education, based in Stellenbosch, is a non-profit private school that strives to make a truly excellent education available at a fee affordable to those from low-income communities.

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10/18/2019
DACHSER wins the 2019 IMD Global Family Business Award

IMD recognized DACHSER for robust corporate and family governance structures combined with operational excellence and a focus on quality. IMD Business School, a top-ranked global business school headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, awarded DACHSER with the renowned IMD Global Family Business Award. On behalf of the company and the founding family, Bernhard Simon, CEO of DACHSER, and Birgit Kastner-Simon, Corporate Director Corporate Marketing, accepted the award at the 30th Summit of the Family Business Network International (FBN-I) in Udaipur, India.

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10/28/2019
IMO 2020 regulations are making ships cleaner

New environmental guidelines from the International Maritime Organization for global shipping traffic will take effect in January 2020. Read on to find out what it’s all about.

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10/22/2019
Women leading in logistics - Fearless female: Marli Wilson

While the logistics field still tends to dominated by men, times are changing and the fairer sex is increasingly building successful careers in logistics. DACHSER South Africa is working hard to redress the gender inequalities in the industry. We’re chatting to fearless women who are playing vital roles in the DACHSER South Africa offices.

Operations Manager Marli Wilson believes that if you are passionate and consistent you can accomplish anything and overcome most challenges.

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