Exporters are supporting the country’s conventional shipping programme to counter wind delays in Cape Town
South Africa’s conventional shipping programme to Europe is likely to increase in 2025 compared with last year.
As the table grape and stonefruit seasons move to an end, attention is now shifting to apples, pears and citrus as the most comprehensive conventional reefer shipping programme from South Africa to Europe in years from the port of Cape Town moves to a new phase.
Significant shipments directly to Russia are also forming part of the programme.
Regular departures from Cape Town’s multi-purpose terminal are viewed as an important addition to the logistics programme between South Africa and the UK and Europe.
There are also expected to be 12 direct shipments to Russia. When the grape and stonefruit seasons close, shipments to Russia will be included in the normal schedule.
The programme is operated by Anlin Shipping, agents for the Reefer Alliance.
Charles Gantz, CEO of Anlin Shipping, said the programme offered exporters more options, specifically when the summer south-easterly winds caused delays at Cape Town Container Terminal
He confirmed that growers had reacted well to the conventional reefer option because they could spread the risk of shipments.
Due to the war in Ukraine, fruit shipments from South Africa to Russia have been affected in changes to shipping schedules, with only one container line still offering a direct service.
The conventional reefer programme, as over the past three years, has played a major role in keeping the trade between the countries going.
It is believed that in terms of citrus alone, South Africa shipped 9 per cent of its total crop of around 165mn cartons to Russia last year.
This would put total shipments of all fruit from South Africa to Russia at around 250 000 pallets per year.
