Fresh Produce Terminals (FPT), part of South Africa-based Capespan's logistics division, has announced an increase in fruit volumes handled from 100,000 to 250,000 pallets between 2005 and 2008.
The rise has been attributed in part to an increase in volumes taken by rail, according to division head Albertyn du Bois. 'With the deteriorating quality of roads and escalating diesel prices impacting negatively on road transport, FPT's focus on rail will continue,' he said.
The group has opened a permanent office in Letsitele to better service the growing volumes in the Limpopo area, with extra rail points for citrus loading in Mussina and Tsipisi on the way.
The group is also planning to transport refrigerated containers from Aussenkehr, Kakamas, Hex River and Tzaneen to various ports, with a long-term goal of assisting Transnet Freight Rail in increasing its current rail infrastructure, according to Mr Du Bois.
'FPT strives to give customers a total transport solution from loading cargo at farms and onto rail trucks, documentation, monitoring trucks and delivering cargo in the ports of Maputo, Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth,' Mr Du Bois said.