IOEC is an established South African export company that has 50 years of experience in exporting building materials. 

What are building materials?

Building materials are any materials that can be used during construction. Building materials often include wood, concrete, steel, cement, bricks, clay, metal, and other materials. 

Building materials include hardware. These are building tools, power tools, and other products and accessories used during construction.

Most construction companies import quality building materials from other countries.

IOEC exports a wide range of premium, high performance building materials directly from leading manufacturers. IOEC’s top exports of building materials include the following:

• Rough sawn pine timber
• Planed pine timber
• Pine and Eucalyptus transmission poles
• Industrial electrical cables
• Plywood 
• Hardboard 
• Steel 
• Cement 

Ensuring South African products reach international shores

IOEC is committed to ensuring South African building materials reach international shores. IOEC manages and grows leading South African building materials brands in over 50 international markets in the following ways:

Excellent relationships 

IOEC has outstanding relationships with leading building materials manufacturers in South Africa and around the world. IOEC’s specialist procurement and building materials teams ensure that the best products are sourced from manufacturers at the most competitive prices.

Personalised service

IOEC clients are treated with honesty, trust, and transparency. IOEC goes the extra mile to meet each client’s unique supply needs.  

• IOEC takes time to understand clients’ businesses and their markets. 
• IOEC’s Category Managers make around 250 country visits each year to meet with business owners. 
• IOEC’s Category Managers are specialists in their markets. They regularly gather market intelligence to help grow the brands we represent. 
• IOEC’s marketing division leverages these country-specific market insights to drive awareness and Sales.

An experienced, professional team

IOEC has over 150 professionals dedicated to the export process. This includes: 

• 14 procurement experts who have outstanding relationships with leading building materials manufacturers. 
• Over 30 logistics experts who handle all aspects of the export process. This includes documentation, clearing and forwarding.
• Over 20 Category Managers and Key Account Managers with vast experience and insight into their markets.  
• An inhouse software development team.
• An inhouse marketing division that specialises in international brand management and development. 
• An experienced warehouse team.

Cutting edge technology 

IOEC has built Gateway, a digital ordering and tracking platform that is among the world’s most advanced. Gateway has revolutionised the building materials export industry. 

• Clients use Gateway to order building materials on their smartphone, desktop, laptop, or tablet.
• Clients get detailed product information on Gateway. 
• Gateway provides clients with tailored price lists based on their unique preferences, including currency, container type, and pallet configuration.  
• Clients can track export progress in real time.
• Gateway provides live communication with the IOEC team.

Consolidated container service 

IOEC consolidates building materials orders from multiple suppliers into individual consignments for export via sea, road, or air. Consolidated containers are a cost effective way to export a wide range of building materials from different suppliers in a single container.

Bespoke labelling 

IOEC’s warehouse is equipped to print customised labels to make sure products comply with international export requirements. Bespoke labelling can include:

• Language translations

• Importer details 

• Weight and volumes 

• Nutritional info

• Percentage of alcohol 

• BB dates

• Servings

• Barcodes

Each product is fixed with a customised label.

Contact IOEC today for an experienced, trusted, and reliable building materials export partner.