The local arm of the global logistics company UTi recently won a contract with a major car manufacturer to manage the customs clearance of all its imports and exports.

UTi director of automotive customer solutions Frank Vorrath said its contract with Volkswagen of South Africa had resulted in the company employing 20 additional employees and setting up a VW/UTi business unit.

“The UTi business unit makes sure all VW imports and exports get customs cleared by managing the process and ensuring its efficiency,” said Vorrath.

UTi Port Elizabeth was launched in the early 1990s with only five staff members, but has since grown to about 100 employees.

The company’s main focus in the Eastern Cape is on the automotive OEMs, which make up 85% of its operations.

“It is important for UTi to be one of the market leaders and to constantly improve its business,” said Vorrath.

UTi are worldwide specialises in providing air and ocean freight forwarding, contract logistics, customs brokerage and other supply chain management services.

The company has 469 offices in 135 countries and reported gross earnings of $1,5-billion in the 2004 financial year.