Reefer Operators Focused on Perishables Capitalize on Red Sea Disruptions

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Note: Stakeholders in the Indian reefer cargo industry are selectively choosing ocean services that pass through the Red Sea, rather than those that take the extended route around the Cape of Good Hope

Stakeholders in the Indian reefer cargo industry are selectively choosing ocean services that pass through the Red Sea, rather than those that take the extended route around the Cape of Good Hope.

Recognizing a profitable opportunity, several regional or feeder lines have recently positioned themselves in the India-Red Sea/Mediterranean trade routes, despite the security concerns associated with navigating the Red Sea area.

Sources at Nhava Sheva report that Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers (NVOCCs) are increasingly collaborating with these specialized short-haul carriers to initiate Red Sea voyages, either on a regular or one-off basis. Companies such as SeaLead, Emirates Shipping, KMTC, TS Line, Global Feeder, Unifeeder, CULines, and X-Press Feeders are reportedly active in attempting to take advantage of the market disruption as major carriers continue to redirect their vessels.

A recent case in point was a shipment of high-quality citrus fruits from Egypt, imported by Mumbai-based IG International.

“Egyptian citrus fruits have always been known for their quality and taste,” said Tarun Arora, the company's director, in an interview with The Loadstar. “And this signifies the beginning of a bountiful season.”

According to local trade sources, the first container of fresh Egyptian fruit that arrived in India last week completed the direct journey from Port Said to Nhava Sheva in just 17 days, a significantly shorter duration compared to the average time required when traveling via southern Africa.

The cargo was transported by the Singapore-based liner ONE's subsidiary, X-Press Feeder's X-Press Altair, a medium-sized vessel operated by Sea Consortium, a shared feeder service provider headquartered in Singapore.

DP World Nhava Sheva, which received the vessel, informed The Loadstar that it carried cargo booked on behalf of Unifeeder and several NVOCCs, as well as shipments under ONE's bills of lading.

Rapid transit times and service reliability are essential for the perishables trade, and with the ongoing diversion of vessels, shippers in this sector have had to confront significant supply chain challenges.

Upcoming Red Sea departures from Nhava Sheva include the X-Press Mekong, serving on the Red Sea-Gulf-India (RGI) service, the X-Press Dhaulagiri, an ad-hoc vessel, and the KR Tasman, deployed by CULines on the new IMR loop, as per port sources.


 
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