As the deciduous fruit industry in South Africa enters its peak export season, the Port of Cape Town's logistical issues are highlighted as a significant concern by Hortgro, the industry body. The organization, however, acknowledges the efforts of Minister Creecy in addressing these challenges through active engagement and the acceleration of solutions, including the introduction of new equipment to the port.
During a recent meeting with port stakeholders, Creecy detailed the initiatives undertaken by the state and Transnet to enhance port operations. These measures encompass the acquisition of new equipment and a strategy to deploy pilots to ships via helicopter in adverse sea conditions, ensuring uninterrupted operations during the critical fruit export period. "We have been working hard with the port users over the past couple of months to try to make sure this season is a better season for the export of deciduous fruit and related products," Creecy stated, emphasizing the collaborative efforts to align with the fruit industry's value chains.
Hortgro expresses cautious optimism about the improvements, noting the importance of continued urgency in addressing the port's challenges. The past four years have seen escalating logistical issues, resulting in significant industry losses, including farm sales and job cuts. Despite these setbacks, Hortgro looks forward to a collaborative future with Transnet, focusing on enhanced transparency and communication to overcome the port's operational hurdles.
Source: freight news