Targeting Japanese market
TERRY HUTSON
MARCH 31 will see the official opening of Durban’s new citrus export facility at Maydon Wharf.
Also in the pipeline is a wood chip export facility just a few berths along from the citrus berth.
The terminal, Commercial Cold Storage (CCS), is the manifestation of a joint venture between the Oceana Group Ltd and SA Port Operations (Sapo) to construct a specialised steri-citrus facility targeting the Japanese market.
“The world-class facility in Durban will cost in the region of R60m and is in support of government’s
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new ports policy to introduce greater private participation and investment in cargo handling in South African ports,” says Willem Visagie, managing director of CCS.
The terminal will have 4800 pallets under rapid cooling for steri-citrus and a further 1 500 pallets for conventional cooling and storage. It will create employment for about 80 people during the citrus season, which lasts from April until October.
“We have been involved in fruit export logistics since 1998 and this investment affirms our commitment to the fruit industry to provide the best possible service to our clients,” said Visagie.
He said the strong growth in steri-citrus volumes to Japan and other markets had created the need for additional quayside cooling capacity. All citrus imports into Japan are subject to certain protocols with regard to the cold treatment of such fruit before entering the Japanese market. These protocols are negotiated on a government-to-government level to prevent the importation of quarantine pests into Japan.
During harvest time South Africa supplies about 85% of the demand for grapefruit, oranges and lemons to the Japanese market, and phenomenal growth has been experienced between 2001 and 2003.
According to Lunga Ngcobo, Sapo’s senior communications manager, other markets like the USA, South Korea and Taiwan are also in the process of upgrading their standards and are now also demanding certain sterilisation protocols before shipment can take place.
A computer impression of the new fruit terminal at Maydon Wharf 7 which swings into action at the end of this month.
