Malca-Amit is a full service courier company with a 21 year record of providing the highest quality personalised service and the most efficient logistic solutions for diamonds, jewelry, gold, coins, bank notes, and valuable documents. Malca-Amit’s international team of logistics, security, custom brokers and special operations experts are on hand 24/7 to ensure a smooth, expedient and professional service tailored to a company’s requirements. Our correspondent in Brussels caught up with Nigel Paxman, CEO of the Malca-Amit Group of Companies, to find out more about this company.
Please, could you describe Malca-Amit’s performance in 2011?
Considering the challenging 12 months that have marked 2011 as a year of transformation, the Malca-Amit Group has overall weathered the changes of this testing period extremely well. We have opened new stations in Asia and our new facilities at the Singapore Freezone are performing very well. We have also opened Freezones at other MA stations and are witnessing significant activity in these early stages of their operations. Overall revenue and profitability have increased, however this varies considerably from country to country depending on the economic conditions and the products we are shipping into and out of those countries.
One of the services offered by your company is collecting on delivery, which includes the collection of payment prior to delivering goods to the consignee and the transfer of payment to the seller. Why do the buyer and seller use your company for payments instead of dealing directly with each other?
It’s used for security, convenience and confidence. If a buyer and seller do not know each other well and have not done business before, there maybe some degree of hesitation when completing a transaction. But, when they both know and trust MA they enjoy a greater degree of confidence. So, the contract is completed at the same time without the buyer in one country sending the payment before he has received the goods or the seller sending the goods before he has received the payment.
Now that many people are trying to invest into gold and valuables, do you feel this pressure in terms of shipments?
There are some additional shipments due to investment in physical gold and valuables, but investment usually means the gold or valuables may move once and then stay in secure storage for long periods. So there has been some increase in shipments due to investment goods, but this is not significant in comparison to goods moved for the diamond and jewelry trade ending up at retail.
What is the procedure for handing over jewelry to your company for its further delivery?
We cannot comment on Malca-Amit procedures as they are security sensitive. What I can say is that senior management take security and operational procedures extremely seriously and have the highest industry standards.
Does the price of delivery depend on the cargo value?
Obviously the higher the value the goods the more security is required and the higher the insurance cost for liability etc. So the value is one factor influencing the cost of delivery, but there are also other factors such as airline charges, customs and other government charges, point of pick up and final destination distance in relation to export and import airports etc.
What of your routes is the busiest?
Between the major mining countries to major diamond hubs that sort the rough, polish and manufacture, and of course to the major retail markets. It depends on what you call busiest routes as it depends on type of commodity and state of manufacture.
What was the amount of goods transported by Malca-Amit in 2011 in terms of money?
We cannot comment on this as it is security sensitive information.
What part of this amount belonged to diamonds?
Approximately 50%.
How many customers used your services in 2011?
Approximately 5,000, but this includes global companies who have several offices in different countries to small single office operations and dealers.
Their number has increased or decreased as compared to 2010?
Increased.
How much are you interested in the Russian market?
MA has significant business to and from Russia, but as an overall percentage of MA’s global market, Russia is still growing to become a major destination. But business to and from Russia is steadily increasing and in the coming years, we expect to see a significant increase.
Is the number of your orders growing in view of the Christmas season?
October, November and first half of December are always big months for MA for shipments to the retail markets, but the cutting and polishing markets do not increase that dramatically as jewelry should already be manufactured for the Christmas period by the beginning of October. There is some increase over 2010 shipment numbers but this is not a significant increase unlike the comparison between number of shipments 2011 compared with 2009 which is significant.
What is the main goal of Malca-Amit in 2012?
MA has expanded with a number of additional and new locations in Asia. In 2010 and 2011 we also opened and established a number of new services catering to the diamond and jewelry market, as well as other markets. The economic situation is uncertain and could have a dramatic effect on the D&J and valuable commodities industries. Malca-Amit will consolidate its position in 2012 making sure the new locations operate to MA standards, the new services are operating to MA standards, maintain market share and profitability.
What kind of services do you provide to your customers?
Secured Door-to-Door Delivery: Malca-Amit’s worldwide network and commitment to the highest standards of security in all logistical solutions enables overnight secured delivery of precious cargo to all major precious cargo centers – as well as rapid secured delivery to almost any destination worldwide.
Door-to-Airport: Secured delivery of precious cargo to all international airports.
MA Express: A co-operative program between Malca-Amit and Fedex providing a cost-effective solution for the rapid delivery of lower value shipments.
Special Operations: Tailor-made packages including security and logistics for private events and special showings.
Guarding Services: Malca-Amit provides a variety armed guarding services including: on-premises, static guarding, body-guarding, VIP guarding and patrolling. Other guarding programs include: armed meet and guard from airport or at plane-side, special events, and photo-shoots
Jewelry Show Packages: From pick-up to return delivery, Malca-Amit’s Comprehensive Full Service Jewelry Show Package provides logistic and insurance solutions, covering valuables during transits to/from a show and whilst exhibited. Malca-Amit proudly maintains one of the largest and most experienced team of security, insurance and logistic experts onsite during exhibitions to support, answer and service on-show needs regarding security measures, logistical inquiries and insurance queries.
C.O.D. Service: Collection of payment prior to delivering goods to the consignee and transfer of payment to the seller
Inspection Services: Malca-Amit enables a potential buyer to inspect a diamonds and precious gems under secured supervision at Malca-Amit premises.
Hold For Further Instructions: Malca-Amit will hold goods until written confirmation from the shipper/seller is received authorizing release of the goods.
Comprehensive Insurance Liability: Malca-Amit provides full liability for goods while in transit. Our liability to goods is 100% insured by Lloyd's of London, the world's leading insurance provider of specialist insurance services
Malca-Amit Jet Service: Shipments from Belgium can be delivered in a few hours within Europe and with the next available flight to Asia and U.S.A. This is the perfect solution for very urgent shipments.
Сustoms Brokerage Services: Malca-Amit Customs House Brokers facilitates, tracks and co-ordinates all phases of the customs clearance process.
Purchase of Precious Metals: Malca-Amit Precious Metals based in Singapore can purchase precious metals on a company’s or individual’s behalf and provide a complete solution based in the Singapore Freeport, for the allocation and storage of precious metals.
Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Facilities: Malca-Amit operates six Foreign Trade Zones Facilities worldwide including: Manhattan - JFK Airport - Geneva - Zurich -Singapore – Bangkok.
Malca-Amit operated FTZs enables customers to defer duty on goods until they are sold or removed from the designated FTZs. Additionally, goods imported into the zone may be tested, inspected, re-packaged and re-labeled - all without payment of duty.
Fine Art Services: Malca-Amit’s US-based Fine Art Department offers a comprehensive package of services tailor-made for dealers, auction houses and collectors of: Sculptures, Painting, Ceramics and Decorative Art.
Malca-Amit’s Fine Art department offers a full range of logistics services including: Secured “Nail to Nail” shipping, Fine Art “All Risk” insurance, In-house Customs Brokerage, Packing and Crating Service.
High Value Storage Facilities: Based in the Singapore Freeport, Malca-Amit provides a selection of standard room sizes and individual vaults to suit every preference and need - providing unparalleled security for precious commodities, jewelry and art. From 24-hour electronic facility monitoring bolstered with armed auxiliary police officers and a sophisticated invisible laser sensor network surrounding the facility, to biometric identification methods and an infra-red motion detection security system
What kind of transport do you employ for valuables?
Malca-Amit uses a comprehensive fleet of secured transportation methods including armored trucks and armored Limousines where applicable. The company also operates within Europe a Jet Service powered by a Malca-Amit dedicated aircraft.
How quickly do you deliver items?
Overnight delivery is available to all major diamond/jewelry centers. For example, pick up in Belgium in the afternoon and the goods will be delivered in New York the following morning. For deliveries within Europe, there is the possibility of using Malca-Amit Jet Service which enables delivery within a few hours when needed.
Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished
