Reefer supply remains under pressure

The supply of refrigerated containers remains under considerable pressure in SA, but the popularity of reefers as an alternative to cold storage rooms continues to grow. Of real concern is the growing shortage of 20-foot containers which continue to be more difficult to source than 40-footers. “The local and overborder markets we supply have continued to show good growth, which in turn leads to good demand by perishable handlers for cold transport and on-the-ground static cold storage. One of the challenges to that growth remains a ready supply of good reefers. Container supply has been slow to rebound after emerging from the 2008-09 economic slump and the trend looks set to continue in the short term as the level of orders for new reefers struggles to make up for the two years’ worth of lost production,” said Warren Jacobs of Almar Container Group. For Almar’s clients, “specialist refrigeration expertise” has proved important. “We have established a good working relationship with a reliable network of specialist reefer technicians to prepare and maintain our reefer fleet. This strong network of technical experts is a critical component for a successful reefer container supplier,” said Jacobs. The mobility of reefers is one factor in their usage as alternative cold storage rooms. “The containers have proved to be a versatile and reliable refrigeration system. Reefers continue to be given preference over the costly construction of immobile cold rooms – and with a temperature range of minus 25 to plus 18 the list of possible applications is vast,” said Jacobs. The outlook for the shipment and storage of perishables this year and beyond suggests a continuing upward demand for reefers. “Going forward the market looks set to provide some good opportunities for the sale and lease of reefer containers while the supply side is expected to improve into 2012,” said Jacobs.