Optimising Africa’s supply chains
Through our Vender Managed Inventory (VMI) and Purchaser Managed Inventory (PMI) offering, we work with the continent’s producers and end users to bridge financial and logistical challenges, mitigate risk, and to improve both global marketing and sourcing.
Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI)
Improved sourcing
Working with multiple suppliers concurrently, managing commodity and freight price risk, global engagement with producers.
Transparency
A fixed fee per MT offering means that we work as partners to drive value improvements; our clients see every cost component in their supply chain.
Balance sheet improvement
Product sits on SCA’s book prior to delivery so results in a significant balance sheet improvement – typically~ 105 days better compared to when buying FOB or CFR.
Improved payment terms and cashflow
CZ pays the supplier FOB and gives credit terms from warehouse release date; automatic ~ 100 day improvement versus paying at BL date.
Visibility
Digitisation and visibility: SCA’s end-to-end service with real-time inventory management means clients retain controland confidence.
Purchase Managed Inventory (PMI)
Improved cash cycle - overcome seasonality
We pay as soon as AGL has control of product, reducing demand on producer working capital. Origin stock financing helps to overcome seasonality: sell/ship when it makes most sense for your business.
Local financing at international rates
We will finance stock in-country prior to export but at international rates, achieving savings versus local borrowing.
Improved access to global markets
SCA will bridge financial and logistical challenges so exports can access a wider pool of buyers, producers benefit through CZ’s global marketing teams.
Sell through global warehouse network
Product can flow through the Vendor Managed Inventory services that CZ offers to global buyers – improving their cashflow / balance sheet / security of supply.
Transparency
A fixed fee per MT offering means that we work as partners to drive value improvements; our clients see every cost component in their supply chain.
Visibility
SCA’s end-to-end service with real-time inventory management means clients retain control and confidence.
30+ years of collaboration
CZ and AGL have been working together to supply manufacturers in Africa for over 30 years: CZ bringing expertise in global commodity trading and sourcing, supply chain optimisation, risk mitigation and supply chain finance; AGL offering deep logistical capabilities, infrastructure and market access.
294
AGL CFS/Warehouses
24
AGL Port Concessions
165+
Years of CZ
50+
Countries served
Quotes from CZ & AGL CEO
“SCA Africa represents a key milestone in Czarnikow’s evolution, formalising a strong, decades-long relationship to deliver an innovative solution to Africa and beyond. The idea is simple but powerful: by combining our supply chain, risk management, and commodities capabilities with AGL’s logistics network, we create a single, integrated service architecture that has never existed in this market before.”
Will Rook
CEO, Czarnikow
“We built SCA Africa on a strong conviction: African supply chains need integrated solutions that are firmly grounded in local realities. By combining Czarnikow’s global expertise in commodities and supply chain optimisation with our extensive footprint across the continent, we are uniquely positioned to translate this ambition into tangible, day-to-day impact – bringing greater reliability and agility to our customers.”
Stanislas de Saint Louvent
CEO Africa Logistics & Shipping of AGL