New Zealand-based kiwifruit marketer Zespri has backed a report published by the New Zealand Shippers’ Council calling on New Zealand to accommodate bigger ships.
The company's shipping manager Mike Knowles said such a move would be crucial to ensuring competitiveness among New Zealand's major export products, including kiwifruit.
'Upgrading New Zealand shipping ports to accommodate bigger ships will be the deciding factor in international supply chain efficiencies for New Zealand export industries,' he commented.
The report, entitled 'The Question of Bigger Ships: Securing New Zealand's International Supply Chain', reviewed and recommended key infrastructure initiatives that it says will provide the Southern Hemisphere country with a competitive advantage and greater efficiency along its supply chain.
'For a country whose wealth is based on the success of our export industries, New Zealand must remain internationally competitive,' said Mr Knowles. 'The strategic development of a North and South Island port to accommodate bigger container ships is imperative to long-term export growth and success.'
He added: 'We cannot afford to turn these ships away from our ports and risk having our shipping services become increasingly 'boutique' in nature using older and smaller ships to get our products to key global markets.'
The introduction of bigger ships to Zespri's existing supply chain arrangements had the potential to offer a viable and cost-efficient method of meeting growing demand for its products in Asia and other markets, Mr Knowles continued.
'Not only would we be able to ship more Zespri Kiwifruit at one time, but we would be able to reduce carbon emissions and further reduce our carbon footprint.'
'We look forward to working with the New Zealand Shippers' Council and other member organisations to secure a strong future for all New Zealand importers and exporters.'
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