Kevin Attard

How has Customs and Freight Agency Limited developed and expanded its offerings since its setting up?

I had a very humble start as a customs broker and processing documents for importers – however, I’ve never looked back since.

I must admit it was not as easy as it seems, but my determination helped me to overcome obstacles and to venture into new opportunities.

Customs and Freight Agency Limited started as a customs agency with customs documentation as our main service offering. Five years later we ventured into freight forwarding and we changed our name to what it is today.

With an 18-year successful history, Customs and Freight Agency Limited is one of the key players in the industry, offering a one stop shop, door-to-door service. We have customers who are still with us since our first days and this is a certificate of efficiency, reliability and credibility.

Is your move to new premises part of a larger expansion programme?

Investment is always a priority for us and this ambitious move has been in the pipeline for years. I believe in consolidation and our new address will definitely consolidate the group’s operations – we have designed our complex in a way that it helps us maximise our potential.

To and from which countries do you offer freight services?

After Malta joined the European Union in 2004, Customs and Freight Agency Limited went into partnership with Passalacqua Trasporti, a pioneer transport company with over 35 years of experience in the logistics sector – the company focuses on groupage services originating from Ragusa, Sicily.

Our strongest markets are Italy and Sicily. We have also recently extended our services to Libya and Tunisia. We specialise in door-to-door transport service in full load and groupage. Through Passalacqua we operate our own depots with daily departures and arrivals from Turin, Milan, Bologna, Rome, Bari, Palermo, Messina, Catania, Ragusa and Malta. We operate temperature-controlled services with cold storage in Catania. We also have a fleet of trailers that can take different loads from heavy equipment to street fashion and designer clothing.

Do you plan to expand this network?

Definitely – nowadays, Customs and Freight Agency Limited is a member of the Global Transport Organisation and Association which is represented in all corners of the globe. This puts us on the map and helps us extend our network.

We have customers who are still with us since our first days and this is a certificate of efficiency, reliability and credibility

Which industries do your services target?

We have a wide variety of clients, from supermarket chains to individuals who, for instance, import personal furnishings from IKEA in Sicily. We have the you buy, we ship philosophy and this works well with our customers. We have customers who, while on holiday, call us to ship something that they would have come across while travelling. That is how we can tailor our services to our customers demands.

We also offer events logistics – for the fifth year we have been the transporters for all the staging equipment for Isle of MTV. In 2010 we were also entrusted to transport the pope mobile for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Malta. Owing to the fact that Malta is an island you cannot have any restrictions on what to transport – otherwise you end up with empty trucks.

What advantages does Malta have over other countries in the freight services sector?

One of our greatest disadvantages is the sea surrounding us, which acts as an obstacle. However, we have always invested in the best infrastructure to overcome this disadvantage. That said, our geographical position at the crossroads of the main shipping routes in the Mediterranean supersedes all disadvantages.

What role does technology play in the freight services sector?

Technology is one of the key factors for success in any logistics company. Tracking systems, watching and monitoring on mobile devices, seeing what locations drivers are in and what fuel trucks are consuming have become a necessity not a luxury. Today we give instructions to drivers through mobile phones which also allow them to view e-mails, send messages, measure distances and plan routes. Technology helps us be more efficient and is also more cost-effective.

How has the economic downturn that Europe has experienced in recent years affected the freight service sector?

The effect was huge. The increase in fuel prices had a huge effect on road transport and ferry tariffs, not to mention the negative effect on the manufacturing industry.

The increase was immediate hence the end result was very negative on the rates clients had to pay. We are still struggling and customers are seeking different markets from where to import their goods. Some clients are importing less quantities on a more frequent basis while others combine more than one supplier so they can ship goods together. This has given us the opportunity to go for innovative routes and services.

What regulatory and legislative support does the freight services sector need to expand further?

For a successful future we have to be more objective and work with the relevant authorities to expand in the right direction. I feel that expansion in the freight sector does not depend on operators like us but on the holistic performance of the country’s economy. It is very important that ferry costs and terminal handling fees and road taxes are monitored since every little increase impacts the final cost of any product sold on the market. We have to remain competitive and work hard to exploit any opportunities our geographical position offers.