Making fruit exports more competitive

Ngqura has become more competitive as an export gateway for citrus and apple exports thanks to neighbouring investments in the logistics park of the Coega Industrial Development Zone. “The opening of a container depot over the road from PE Cold Storage by APM Terminals has made us a lot more competitive by reducing the inland haulage cost to only R400-R500 a container,” says George Efstratiou of PE Cold Storage, which was among the first companies to build a warehouse facility in the Coega IDZ. Both facilities are within sight of the Port of Ngqura. As a result of the lower costs, PE Cold Storage and Ngqura will be handling largescale apple exports for the first time in 2013. Volumes of citrus through the PE Cold Storage facility were also up over the season which has just ended, despite the fact that citrus exports out of the Sundays River and Gamtoos growing areas were down by 15%, according to Efstratiou. PE Cold Storage has supported the farmers by freezing rates for the past three years. Rapidly rising electricity costs will force an increase in 2013. PE Cold Storage is installing 70 reefer plug points for the 2013 season. This will be a free value-added service to customers, says Efstratiou.