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The TRADE X global automotive trading platform creates a strategic hub in Kenya, which will serve automotive dealers within key East African countries

TRADE X, a B2B cross-border automotive trading platform based in Ontario, Canada, today announced that it has opened a new Kenyan trading corridor, which includes both a shared bonded warehouse in Mombasa and an office in Nairobi, as the company expands its reach across the African continent.

TRADE X provides auto dealers, car rental companies, fleet owners and mobility solution providers with a seamless end-to-end process for the sourcing and distribution of cross-border vehicle inventory. With the highest GDP in East Africa, Kenya serves as a strategic location, providing a direct-access route to trade with landlocked countries such as South Sudan and Uganda, where it is legal to drive vehicles registered in neighboring countries.

Over the past few months, TRADE X has focused on developing a presence in Kenya and building broader trust within the automotive industry. In May, TRADE X began buying and shipping inventory to Kenya as the company works toward making right-hand drive vehicles available on its platform.

In Kenya, the bulk of automobiles originate in Japan. Unlike other African markets, Kenya has strict import requirements. Vehicles must not be older than seven years, and cars must pass an inspection process before being shipped into the country. Vehicles that are shipped to Kenya without first passing an inspection are destroyed.

TRADE X is focused not only on tapping into the supply coming out of Japan, but to opening new trade routes between Kenya and countries such as the U.K, Australia, Thailand, South Africa, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.

In Kenya, popular automotive brands include Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Subaru. TRADE X is looking to further expand the variety of makes and models available to Kenyan car buyers.

Interested automotive dealers in West Africa can sign up at tradexport.com to begin procuring vehicles, accelerating inventory turnover and driving revenues.

The company’s AI-driven ‘Brain’ software provides dealers, fleet owners, and mobility solutions providers first-ever support in all aspects of vehicle trading. This includes trade financing, compliance, customs requirements, international payments processing, vehicle inspections, digital trade documentation, and homologation. TRADE X provides peace of mind and security for users, whether they are trading within their own continent or overseas. TRADE X simplifies the experience and ensures each transaction is transparent, compliant, insured, and monitored from start to finish.

About TRADE X

With headquarters in Ontario, Canada, TRADE X is the first global vehicle marketplace to aggregate cross-border supply and demand for car dealers, fleet owners, rental companies, mobility solution providers, importers, and exporters, opening new trading corridors to buy and sell vehicles. The TRADE X ‘Brain’ platform is a machine-learning, AI-driven technology that connects buyers and sellers through a transparent marketplace that aids sellers in finding the world’s highest bidders and gives buyers access to the best vehicle source markets and price arbitrage opportunities. Users can quickly and seamlessly transact online in a secure environment with all the complexities of international trade – compliance, anti-money laundering regulations, vehicle inspection, currency exchange, digital trade documentation, payments, and financing – all managed by TRADE X. The company serves authorized buyers and sellers everywhere with a user-friendly app available 24/7 via mobile, tablet, or desktop. TRADE X’s largest investors include Aimia Inc., a publicly traded holding company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: AIM).

IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘Africa – Sausages And Similar Products Of Meat – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

The revenue of the sausage market in Africa amounted to $6B in 2018, growing by 9.3% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers’ margins, which will be included in the final consumer price).

In general, sausage consumption continues to indicate a mild shrinkage. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016, with an increase of 17% against the previous year. The level of sausage consumption peaked at $7.4B in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, consumption stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Production in Africa

In 2018, sausage production in Africa amounted to 2M tonnes, coming down by -3.1% against the previous year.

Exports in Africa

In 2018, the amount of sausages and similar products of meat exported in Africa amounted to 12K tonnes, jumping by 2.3% against the previous year. The total exports indicated a prominent growth from 2008 to 2018: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +6.7% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2018 figures, the sausage exports increased by +14.3% against 2016 indices.

In value terms, sausage exports totaled $21M (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. Over the period under review, sausage exports continue to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2013, when exports increased by 16% y-o-y. In that year, sausage exports attained their peak of $30M. From 2014 to 2018, the growth of sausage exports failed to regain its momentum.

Exports by Country

South Africa prevails in sausage exports structure, amounting to 10K tonnes, which was near 86% of total exports in 2018. It was distantly followed by Kenya (1.2K tonnes), generating 9.8% share of total exports.

South Africa was also the fastest growing in terms of the sausages and similar products of meat exports, with a CAGR of +9.1% from 2008 to 2018. Kenya experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. While the share of South Africa (-50.2%) decreased significantly, the shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, South Africa ($16M) remains the largest sausage supplier in Africa, comprising 78% of total sausage exports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Kenya ($3.5M), with a 17% share of total exports.

Export Prices by Country

In 2018, the sausage export price in Africa amounted to $1,793 per tonne, waning by -12.4% against the previous year. In general, the sausage export price continues to indicate an abrupt reduction.

Export prices varied noticeably by the country of origin; the country with the highest export price was Kenya ($3,057 per tonne), while South Africa totaled $1,619 per tonne.

From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of export prices was attained by Kenya.

Imports in Africa

The imports totaled 79K tonnes in 2018, declining by -12.6% against the previous year. The total imports indicated a notable expansion from 2008 to 2018: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.4% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2018 figures, the sausage imports decreased by -36.0% against 2014 indices.

In value terms, sausage imports stood at $123M (IndexBox estimates) in 2018.

Imports by Country

Angola dominates sausage imports structure, accounting for 48K tonnes, which was near 61% of total imports in 2018. It was distantly followed by Lesotho (6K tonnes), comprising 7.7% share of total imports. Gabon (2.9K tonnes), Ghana (2.6K tonnes), Mauritius (2.5K tonnes), Democratic Republic of the Congo (2.4K tonnes), Liberia (1.5K tonnes), Congo (1.5K tonnes), Cabo Verde (1.5K tonnes) and Mozambique (1.4K tonnes) followed a long way behind the leaders.

Imports into Angola increased at an average annual rate of +1.7% from 2008 to 2018. At the same time, Lesotho (+17.9%), Mozambique (+16.6%), Congo (+13.0%), Democratic Republic of the Congo (+12.1%), Mauritius (+6.3%), Gabon (+5.3%), Liberia (+3.7%), Cabo Verde (+2.2%) and Ghana (+1.0%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Lesotho emerged as the fastest growing importer in Africa, with a CAGR of +17.9% from 2008-2018. While the share of Democratic Republic of the Congo (-2.1%), Lesotho (-6.2%) and Angola (-9.5%) decreased significantly, the shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Angola ($60M) constitutes the largest market for imported sausages and similar products of meat in Africa, comprising 49% of total sausage imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Lesotho ($9.1M), with a 7.4% share of total imports. It was followed by Mauritius, with a 5.5% share.

Import Prices by Country

The sausage import price in Africa stood at $1,558 per tonne in 2018, reducing by -4.6% against the previous year. Overall, the sausage import price continues to indicate a significant contraction.

Import prices varied noticeably by the country of destination; the country with the highest import price was Mauritius ($2,657 per tonne), while Ghana ($1,160 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of import prices was attained by Mauritius, while the other leaders experienced a decline in the import price figures.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform

TRADE X Opens New Automotive Trading Facilities in Kenya