The situation for Australian exporters is not as grim as the rumour mill would have one believe, according to Australian freight forwarding company CT Freight.
Despite rumblings about container shortages as demand rises over the next few months, as well as the continued and steady rise in shipping rates, the sector is sailing along at a healthy pace.
“With forward planning these `container` shortages can be avoided, and from past experience the lines are very aware of the reefer requirements, so I really can’t see there being a drastic problem,” reassures CT Freight’s Wade Bollard.
“Demand over the last few months has been as we expected, and for the rest of the year we are expecting a marked increase on the same period last year. Imports are slightly down but exports have been consistent, particularly to the Middle East where demand has been very strong.”
Shipping rates are also expected to plateau in the next few months, Mr Bollard said.
“I don’t believe there is much more room for rates to increase,” he forecast. “There will come a point where high rates start to effect demand at which times the lines will create a rod for their own back, so to speak.”
CT Freight handles both air and seafreight to and from Australia, with fresh produce comprising around 75 per cent of the company’s business.
Fresh produce airfreight imports to Australia are likely to grow in future, said Mr Bollard; CT Freight has recently signed airfreight block space agreements from a range of global locations.
“We are focusing on the fresh produce import market as we see this as a real growth area,” he stated.
