Category Archives: September newsletter

Dennis ALibux

MSC Netherlands gives insight on challenges facing the banana market amid Covid-19

Silver sponsor MSC gives insight on challenges facing the banana market amid Covid-19
Dennis ALibux

The Cool Logistics team speaks with Dennis Alibux – Reefer Manager, MSC Netherlands, about how MSC is helping its customers navigate the challenges facing exporters and importers amid Covid-19.

How have you seen Covid-19 affecting the banana market?  

The impact of the pandemic has been widespread and, as well as affecting people’s health worldwide, it has had a well-documented impact on the supply chain. As people have become more focussed on health and wellbeing as a consequence of the pandemic, the fresh fruit and vegetable market has also seen an increase in demand, putting additional pressure on the supply chain.  

Whereas under normal circumstances we’d expect to see exporters exploring new markets, we have instead seen a focus on maintaining ‘normality’ for customers, delivering the volumes demanded and ensuring goods arrive regularly and in good condition. 

What are the current challenges for importers and exporters in the banana market

Competition is high in the market – margins are constantly under pressure and customers are always trying to find new ways to increase operational efficiencies. Bananas are a popular fruit year-round, and we did not see the drop in volumes earlier in the year that we did with some other commodities – in fact the total banana market in Rotterdam increased in 2020 vs 2019, and we expect this trend to continue.  

This means that banana exporters and importers are under pressure to deliver quality goods all year round, and are counting on their partners in the transport industry to help them move their cargo efficiently and reliably. MSC has formed lasting partnerships with customers and suppliers across the cold supply chain and are constantly working to mitigate against the challenges our customers are facing, providing support at every stage of their cargo’s journey. 

How has the banana market changed in the past few years? 

Thanks to major advancements in refrigerated container technology global demand for fresh fruit shipped by reefer container has grown by as much as 40% over the last decade, as exporters become less reliant on traditional methods of transport and have started shipping their goods from A to B. 

Advanced technology like Controlled Atmosphere solutions mean that perishable goods can spend longer on their journeys whilst still arriving at their destinations fresh. This has opened up a new world of options for importers and exporters of bananas – which are a very delicate commodity.  

How has MSC responded to this? 

MSC has responded by implementing direct services from key fruit markets such as Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil, and has expanded its shipments of refrigerated containers year on year – in 2020, we transported more than 1.9 million TEU of reefer cargo topping our previous record of 1.8 million in 2019.  

We have been expanding our reefer fleet for temperature-sensitive cargo, notably by adding 15,000 Star Cool units in 2020, and we now have one of the newest reefer fleets in the world. We have also invested heavily in Controlled Atmosphere solutions, and have established dedicated teams of over 1,000 reefer experts, available 24/7, across the world, who are continuously trained to meet the growing reefer market demands and to ensure our customers’ cargo is in safe hands at every stage of its journey – enabling us to deliver global solutions, locally. 

How will MSC continue to support the refrigerated supply chain in the future? 

Reefer container shipping is expected to continue its rise for the foreseeable future, and MSC is committed to offering new opportunities for all participants in the refrigerated cargo supply chain, from producer to consumer. 

However, it’s not only about physical infrastructure; MSC is also focussed on the digital future of the supply chain.  We have been investing in developing digital tools to make shipping safer, more efficient and more sustainable, and we are taking steps to drive digitalisation across our industry. 

A few years ago MSC launched myMSC – a secure and user-friendly online tool that makes it easy to manage every stage of the shipping process. Customers can use myMSC to place bookings, track their shipments, view their order history, get online quotes, see draft Bills of Lading and more.  

Most recently, MSC has launched its electronic Bill of Lading (e-BL) solution, replacing the traditional paper Bill of Lading with a digital version, enabling shippers and other key stakeholders of the supply chain to receive and transmit all trade-related documents electronically. The application is available for shippers, importers and traders of all industries and sizes worldwide and requires no additional IT infrastructure or operational change.  

MSC’s Global Chief Digital and Information Officer, André Simha, will be discussing the advantages of eBL at this year’s Cool Logistics Event as part of a case-study panel, revealing how this new technology has helped our customers save time, reduce costs and mitigate the impact of trade disruptions on cargo flows during COVID-19. 

Sign up to hear André Simha speak via the Cool Logistics event page using this link here 

Find out more about MSCs refrigerated solutions here

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Thermo King – global climate innovator

SIlver sponsor Thermo King update on their product portfolio

Silver sponsor Thermo King – by Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT), a global climate innovator – is a worldwide leader in sustainable transport temperature control solutions. Thermo King has been providing transport temperature control solutions for a variety of applications, including trailers, truck bodies, buses, air, shipboard containers and railway cars since 1938.

Thermo King Global Marine offers the broadest portfolio of products in the industry, designed to protect and secure cold chain integrity for fresh and frozen food, pharma and other perishable cargo in intermodal transport. Refrigeration units like the Container Fresh & Frozen (CFF), Magnum® Plus and the SuperFreezer offer leading temperature control and accuracy within a set-point range of -70°C to +40°C.

Thermo King’s range of generator sets provides the independent power supply needed to ensure the refrigerated containers protect the temperature sensitive cargo while moved on rail or road. 

To ensure the equipment is maintained and kept in prime condition, the Thermo King global dealer and service network offers 24/7 support, while 11 warehouses offer aftermarket supply of parts for all reefer brands, gensets and consumables.

Find out more by visiting the Thermo King website here 

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Logistics Hub

The Logistics Hub at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2022

Platinum sponsor Fruit Logistica updates on what to expect at The Logistics Hub at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2022
Logistics Hub

The Logistics Hub at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2022.

The business of international cold chain logistics can be quite complex. What can the fresh produce trade expect from the independent logistics sector? The Logistics Hub will address typical problems associated with transport and logistics of fresh produce. 

Find out more here by visiting the FRUIT LOGISTICA 2022 website

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Reefer runner

Reefer runner by IDENTEC SOLUTIONS

Gold sponsor IDENTEC SOLUTIONS updates on its Reefer Runner service
Reefer runner

Photo courtesy of IDENTEC SOLUTIONS

Reefer Runner by IDENTEC SOLUTIONS. The continuous implementation of Reefer Runner in the biggest container ports worldwide shows the high demand for automated Reefer Monitoring solutions. Safety, productivity and claim handling are amongst the most important arguments for such a solution.

Source: IDENTEC SOLUTIONS

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Port of Antwerp

A first for Port of Antwerp

Bronze sponsor the Port of Antwerp updates on its GDP guidelines
Port of Antwerp

Photo courtesy of the Port of Antwerp

Ahead of Cool Logistics Global 2021, taking place online 19 – 21 October, news from our Bronze sponsor the Port of Antwerp.

Life sciences and Healthcare products require specific handling during distribution, which is laid down in the GDP (Good Distribution Practice) guidelines. Port of Antwerp has translated this for a maritime setting, making it the first port in the world to operate under the standard of the European GDP rules throughout the logistics chain.

To hear more from Port of Antwerp, book today for Cool Logistics Global 2021 here 

Source: Port of Antwerp

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Automation: a response to challenges in the cold chain

Gold sponsor Lineage Logistics discuss how automation is a response to challenges in the cold chain

Ahead of Cool Logistics Global 2021, taking place online 19 – 21 October, the team at event Gold sponsor Lineage Logistics discuss how automation is a response to the challenges facing today’s cold chain. Today’s cold chain economy is under greater pressure than at any other time in our history.

The pandemic injected volatility and accelerated the already-present need for change in our operations. The food supply chain industry rose to the occasion, working through restrictions and navigating disruptions to continuously ensure food gets to consumers around the world, safely and efficiently. As the sector is starting to look to the future, one solution to many challenges is to increase the automation and digitalisation of the industry.

Source: Lineage Logistics

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Going bananas about AI

Hans-Willem van der Waal of Agro Fair speaks to Cool Logistics about post-harvest digital innovation for organic bananas

Photo by Jeremy Bezanger on Unsplash

Going bananas about AI for fresh produce. Ahead of Cool Logistics Global 2021, taking place online 19 – 21 October, the Cool Logistics team speaks to Hans-Willem van der Waal of Agro Fair about post-harvest digital innovation for shipments of organic banana. To hear directly from Hans-Willem on this subject, book your place today for Cool Logistics Global 2021 here 

Source: Rachael White on LinkedIn

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bananas

Latin American banana crisis

Latin American banana crisis
bananas

Photo by Mathis Jrdl on Unsplash

Latin American banana crisis. Growing countries make statement on rising costs of the industry. Producers and exporters from  Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica represent 60 percent of the global banana production.

Source: FreshPlaza

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food waste

Tackling food waste holistically

Tackling food waste holistically
food waste

Photo by Jasmin Sessler on Unsplash

Tackling food waste holistically. Each of us can help prevent food waste. Developed countries waste as much food as the developing world produces in some cases. The good news is that there are technologies and processes to help reduce food waste globally. 

Source: Fresh Produce Journal

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