Antwerp

Bulk and breakbulk port operator Euroports and fresh produce group Compagnie Fruitiére have announced that they are jointly investing in a new multi-purpose refrigerated fruit terminal at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium.

The facility will be located at Euroports Breakbulk Terminal at the Port of Antwerp's Left Bank, and will boast both a cold and dry store area warehouse.

Construction of the new 13,950m2 facility began in September, with the operation expected to go live in the first quarter of 2013.

The new plant is costing some €8.2m to build, with a new joint-venture company, EuroFruitPort, set to handle temperature-controlled imported fruit – mainly from Africa – as well as additional products for export.

'Euroports is very excited about this project,' explained Charles Menkhorst, CEO of Euroports. ' It provides our group with an excellent opportunity to further diversify our product portfolio. Furthermore, the partnership with Compagnie Fruitière provides both companies with a range of strategic opportunities that we are very committed to investigate together.'