Reefer shipping companies are once again experiencing strong seasonal business in the southern hemisphere this year.
Kiwis from New Zealand, oranges from South Africa, melons from Brazil – demand from the fruit sector continues to be high for reefer carriers and their specialised vessels. Record volumes have been reported on several trade lanes, and charter rates are at a relatively high level for this time of year.
The export season for kiwifruit in New Zealand has just concluded, showing a substantial increase over the previous year. The shipping program of producer cooperative Zespri reached an unprecedented scale, with 60 charter ships and 24,000 containers (FEU). The final ship of the season – the 2021-built Whero (12,354 tdw) operated by Japanese company Fresh Carriers – departed last week with 5,000 tons of kiwifruit bound for Japan, according to Zespri. The total global shipping volume grew by around 10% to more than 770,000 tons this season. “Our markets have performed well, with record sales in Europe and strong demand in the USA and China,” said Zespri CEO Jason Te Brake.
Business is also thriving in South Africa. With the citrus export season now coming to an end, shipping companies – both container and reefer operators – handled more cargo than ever before, exceeding 3 million tons (203.3 million 15 kg boxes). According to the Citrus Growers’ Association, this represents a 25% increase compared to the previous year.
The outlook for the next major seasonal trade is also encouraging. According to Morocco Foodex, the national export agency, citrus exports from Morocco are expected to rise by 10% to nearly 670,000 tons. Forecasts for South African grapes remain stable to slightly positive.
Activity on the charter market for reefer vessels is expected to pick up quickly in the coming weeks as shipments from Chile – including grapes and cherries – gain momentum. Shipping companies can look forward to solid returns. Current freight market conditions are better than in previous years: at $0.50 to $0.55 per cubic foot for 30-day charters, spot rates for large reefer vessels in the Atlantic are more than 10% higher than during the past two years, according to broker and data provider Sopisco.
