Perishable volumes
are on an upward
trajectory –
with containers
increasingly the mode of
choice for exporters.
And that’s good news for
liner business says Graham
Schrieder, southern Africa
reefer sales manager of
Maersk Line.
“To date perishable
volumes are up compared
to 2014, largely due to last
year’s adverse weather
conditions and hail damage
which severely affected the
export of pears and apples,”
he told FTW. “We have also
seen an increase in grape
exports. And although citrus
exports are slightly lower in
comparison to last year, we
expect this to improve before
the end of the year.”
There’s also been a
year-on-year reduction
in perishable cargo being
transported from South
Africa by conventional
break-bulk vessels, with
many exporters preferring
containers, he added.
“This means that as a
shipping line we need to
forward plan and make
sure we read
the situation
as well as
possible,” he
told FTW.
The
growth in
volumes is
apparent
not only in
South Africa
but also in
the rest of
Africa, Asia
and the
Middle East.
“As trade
volumes to Asia and Africa
have continued to grow
over recent years, we have
seen the need to upgrade
our services on these
trades,” said Schrieder, a
move that will improve
transit times from South
Africa to
other regions
while at the
same time
ensuring
more
stability and
reliability in
the service
– crucial
elements
in the cold
chain.
The
perishable
sector,
however, is
not without challenges at
present.
“Uncertainty in certain
markets, f luctuation
between the euro and
dollar exchange rate, and
continuous variations
in markets all impact
the volumes of cargo
being shipped,” said
Schrieder. “It is
therefore not always
possible to plan for
the exact amount
of space that will be
needed for cargo on
a vessel.”
But, he added,
the outlook for
perishable shipping
in southern Africa
remained healthy.
“The biggest
worry is if the
main
markets
get f looded
with one
type of
fruit or
if unpredictable macroeconomic
factors close
down a critical market,
leading to
a ripple
effect that
impacts the
industry.”
INSERT & CAPTION
The growth in
volumes is apparent
not only in South
Africa but also in the
rest of Africa, Asia
and the Middle East.
– Graham Schrieder
Exporters increasingly opt for containers
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