Producer-exporters in the Almeria region are considering and costing proposals which could see winter vegetables and salads sent via sea-freight to Rotterdam at the start of next season in November.

The plan is starting to take shape through exporters' association Coexphal which has been in talks with the port authority of Almeria-Motril and the port of Rotterdam.

As much as 10 per cent of the volume already destined for the Netherlands – some 1,500 pallets a week. A ro-ro ferry would transport the pallets loaded in 80 different lorries, without cabs.

Produce would arrive in three and half days and could then be distributed within in a 350km radius from Rotterdam into northern France, Belgium and Germany as well as the Netherlands and possibly the UK.

The plan would be to run the service from November through to March.