The global refrigerated (reefer) container shipping market segment is expected to grow by more than five percent this year, which will outpace the growth of the dry sector, according to CEO of SeaCube Container Leasing, Robert Sappio.
In a recent report on the SeaCube website, Sappio ascribed this projected growth to an increased demand worldwide for fresh, imported food. “The global consumer is becoming more and more selective and sophisticated about nutrition, demanding and paying a premium for quality imported food,” he said.
Furthermore, said Sappio, the demand for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals was anticipated to grow from a U$318-billion business in 2018 to US$416 billion by 2022,
This would see the container industry continuing to invest in technology and would drive a further shift to digitisation, which increased quality control and efficiency and shifted resource allocation, he added.
“With regard to containers specifically, telematics and advanced fleet management technology will continue to enhance inventory control, increasing productivity and reducing costs,” Scappio pointed out.
