Slovenia’s Port of Koper has ranked as Europe’s number one loading port for Egyptian grape shippers for the first time ever this year, according to the port’s marketing manager Milena Jerman.
This achievement is thanks to the strong performance of direct services between Egypt and Koper, she told Fruitnet.
“For some years Koper port had only one weekly direct service from Egypt during the grape season. This increased to two in 2014: Hapag Lloyd from Damietta with four days transit time and ZIM from Alexandria with three days transit time,” Jerman said.
“This season both lines improved their market approach, and at the end of May Evergreen, part of the CKYHE Alliance, started a new direct service with arrivals on Thursday evening for truck loading on Friday morning. ZIM and Hapag Lloyd services arrive at the beginning of the week.”
Koper last week (18 June) handled peak Egyptian grape arrivals, with some 350 40ft-reefer containers arriving at the port.
The season will slow down by early July, despite starting 7-10 days later than normal, Jerman said.
“We noticed larger volumes of early season Egyptian grapes arriving by air to the EU, where demand was very good,” said Jerman.
“We also noticed that more grapes arriving at Koper were then trucked to the UK, Ireland and even Scandinavia, as well as the traditional markets the Netherlands and Germany.
“Grapes do go directly every week from Egypt to Felixtowe (UK) and Rotterdam (the Netherlands) ports in 7-8 days, but the advantage of going via Koper port is that grapes can be delivered to any final EU destination within six days of departing from Egypt,” Jerman added. “A short transit time is crucial to delivering to the market. The Adriatic corridor remains the main logistics corridor for Egyptian grapes into EU.Furthermore, Koper is guaranteeing fast cross-docking service immediately after berthing.”
Besides Egyptian grapes, in June the Port of Koper handles Israeli potatoes, carrots, grapes and fresh-cut flowers.
