As new and emerging markets continue to present exciting opportunities for those in the fresh produce trade, the focus of session four of this year's Asiafruit Congress zeroed in on how new technologies and partnerships in the field of transport and logistics were opening up new possibilities.
Speaking first at the congress, APL vice president for global reefer trade Eric Eng highlighted the work the company was involved with in both Controlled Atmosphere (CA) and Regulated Atmosphere (RA) reefer shipping.
In the past the trade in fresh produce in Asia had taken place mainly between neighbouring countries, Mr Eng pointed out, but with advances in technology the company could now ship for much longer periods and still have produce arrive in peak condition. This ability is has made trade possible between countries where shipping time had previously prevented the export of certain products. A recent shipment of papaya from China to Canada made by APL was a case in point, he said. “In 2010 imports into Asia sped up by almost 12 per cent,” Mr Eng said. “The biggest growth here was seen in trade into Asia from Latin America.”
Shipping time was only part of the challenge in getting fresh produce exports to markets, however, and Lawrence Dunnigan of Port of Oakland and Akarin Gaw of China Merchants Americold discussed a joint venture the companies were involved in which takes wider logistics issues into account. Mr Gaw explained the venture created more options for exporters who may have previously sent fruit to China via the port in Hong Kong. These would cut down time and handling he said and help to ensure food quality and safety.
Speaking on behalf of the airfreight trade, Bob Cooper of CT Freight said shipping by air remained vital for companies which needed a fast delivery time. He did concede, however, there were increasing opportunities for companies to send produce both by land and sea.
