Fruit, fruit and more
fruit. That is the
outlook for the
Western Cape.
According to Marc
Frauendorf, commercial
manager of MACS
Maritime Carrier Shipping,
fruit is still the biggest
export commodity for the
Western Cape.
“We expect 2015 to be
challenging as the usual
demand for our Western
Cape fruit depends on
many factors this year.
On the one hand Europe
is under pressure to sell
its own crops due to the
EU/Russia sanctions; on
the other hand we have
an exchange rate that is
in favour of exports so
it should stimulate the
volumes,” he told FTW.
“Additionally the Citrus
Black Spot is not affecting
the Western Cape Citrus,
which is a great advantage
and there could be
substantial demand for our
local crops.”
The Western Cape
remains important to the
shipping line.
In 2013 MACS, whose
head-office is based
in Hamburg, with
subsidiaries in Europe,
South Africa and Texas,
added four new ships to
its multipurpose f leet.
The shipping line built
these ships according to its
specific cargo requirements
which allowed it to
maximise efficiency and
increase competitiveness
while remaining f lexible
with regard to the cargo
mix, said Frauendorf.
One of the advancements
on these vessels was the
increased reefer capacity,
allowing the line to carry up
to 150 reefer containers with
a sailing frequency of every
10 days, especially catering
for the high reefer exports
from the Western Cape.
CAPTION
One of MACS’ new-buildings, carrying reefer containers amongst other cargo.
