Every export story has two sides—the exporter and the goods they send to the world. Today, we spotlight an exporting company and explore the challenges, triumphs, and transformative journeys that define this side of international trade.  

 Meet Malobi Ogbechie, the visionary founder and CEO of Kadan Kadan, formerly Malobi's Limited. Initially focused on exporting Fonio, a nutrient-rich ancient grain from West Africa, Malobi's Limited began with modest shipments to the United Kingdom and the United States. Over time, the business evolved into a thriving logistics and freight-forwarding enterprise, solving critical bottlenecks for small-scale exporters.  

 What drives someone to transform challenges into opportunities? For Malobi Ogbechie, the motivation stemmed from a desire to bridge the gap between Africa's rich agricultural potential and the untapped global demand for these products. Growing up witnessing the abundance of local crops and the struggles of farmers and small businesses to reach international markets, Malobi was determined to create solutions that could empower others. He noticed that while African exporters had the ambition and high-quality products, they often lacked access to efficient logistics and the knowledge needed to meet global standards.   

When Malobi Ogbechie started his entrepreneurial journey, he focused on exporting Fonio—an ancient West African grain—to markets in the UK and the U.S., aiming to showcase Africa's potential to the world and pave the way for others to follow. As the founder of Malobi's Limited, he successfully shipped small batches, scaling up to several metric tons. Yet, this success revealed an industry-wide challenge: high logistics costs for small-scale exporters.  

 "I realized that sending goods by air was expensive and unsustainable," Malobi explains. "If you're exporting smaller quantities, you're barely making a profit, sometimes even losing money." 

Exporters faced prohibitive expenses when shipping goods over 100 kilograms by air, and smaller shipments often incurred losses due to a lack of affordable groupage services. Groupage (combining smaller shipments into a single container or Less-than-Container Load (LCL)) shipping was rarely available to Nigerian exporters. Recognizing this gap, Malobi shifted his focus. He founded Kadan Kadan to provide shared container space and freight-forwarding services, addressing a critical pain point for exporters. This pivot solved a pressing logistics challenge and marked the start of a thriving business, with demand for freight forwarding quickly outpacing his Fonio exports. 

Despite his hands-on experience, Malobi understood the importance of continual learning in the dynamic exporting world. This belief led him to join the Scaling Export Program (SEP), a transformative decision that expanded his knowledge and provided access to a valuable network of customers and co-exporters. Networking proved to be a game-changer, opening doors to new opportunities. 

One such opportunity came at a trade show in Houston, Texas, where Malobi met a buyer interested in cassava starch. Although he had no prior experience with this product, the knowledge and confidence gained from SEP empowered him to take on the contract. The deal, which included an upfront payment of $9,000, underscored the importance of adaptability and strategic relationships in the export business. 

The cassava starch project was not without its challenges. Malobi encountered unreliable suppliers, broken contracts, inconsistent communication, and unprofessional packaging. However, these hurdles became valuable lessons. He plans to address these challenges by establishing a cassava starch processing factory, ensuring better quality control and meeting the growing demands of his U.S. customers. 

Malobi's decision to transition fully to Kadan Kadan has allowed him to focus on sourcing gluten-free grains, flours, and starches from Africa while offering logistics and freight-forwarding services. The SEP equipped him to navigate complex export regulations and identify trustworthy agents. This experience has positioned Kadan Kadan as a trusted partner for exporters, easing their path to international markets. 

Moving forward, Malobi envisions transforming KadanKadan into a comprehensive logistics company, bridging the gap between African suppliers and global buyers. His plans include expanding sourcing networks for Fonio and cassava starch in Burkina Faso and Nigeria, acquiring assets like refrigerated trucks to preserve fresh food, and streamlining processes for international buyers. In the next five years, he aims to establish a cassava starch factory, leveraging Nigeria's position as the world's largest cassava producer to cement KadanKadan's place in the global market.