Container shipping availability is a hot topic in the fruit and vegetable trade at the moment, as New Zealand enters the apple export season, exporter Golden Bay Fruit and Shipping company MSC are working together to ensure everything goes smoothly.
Golden Bay Fruit exports apples to Europe, UK, and Asia. The newest markets are well-serviced despite several locations in less common export markets for NZ, such as Myanmar. The company expects to be shipping in excess of 1 million cartons all over the globe in the 2021 season with the assistance of MSC to cover all of the existing and new markets.
Heath Wilkins, CEO Golden Bay Fruit: "We will start picking and shipping in the second week of February. Picking will run through until the end of May, while shipping will continue until late October, possibly November. At our peak, in mid-May, we will be shipping in excess of 100 containers per week – this is when the strength of our relationship with MSC really shines through.”
"Ensuring the quality of our products on arrival, particularly for the longer transits into the UK & Europe, is our primary focus. This is where reliable, high-quality equipment becomes paramount, along with regular and reliable services. MSC have always demonstrated a ‘can do’ attitude and work right alongside us when it really counts, mitigating the potential impact of challenges as they arise."
Golden Bay Fruit is located in Motueka, which is about 40 kilometres out of Nelson. It is a two hour round trip to the port for the trucks, which operate non-stop throughout the season.
Heath Wilkins: "Apart from regular shipping services from our closest port, and the reliable, high-quality equipment that MSC provide, we also consider them our partners. MSC have provided exceptional services to Golden Bay Fruit for a number of years now. The level of engagement between our two businesses is at a point where we consider MSC to be one of our most important business partners, a business that we know equally values us as a partner.”
"The ability to work so well together, overcoming obstacles as they present themselves, is what makes this relationship so important to us."
MSC operates four services a week from New Zealand to the world. The main destination areas are Europe, the United Kingdom, South East Asia (particularly Vietnam & Malaysia), China and the Middle East.
Steve Wright, MSC New Zealand General Manager:
"The majority of the apple volumes move in the first half of the season. Both the Kiwi Express and the Capricorn Service sail westbound, linking New Zealand with the major transhipment hubs of Singapore and Tanjung Pelapas, where cargo then connects in MSC’s global network of services. The other two services from New Zealand sail eastbound to the West Coast and East Coast of the United States."
MSC offers competitive transit times from New Zealand to all the key international apple markets.
"The recent adjustments to our Oceania network through New Zealand – in particular those that have recently occurred on the Kiwi Express and Capricorn Service - have improved transit times from New Zealand by up to 7 days, depending upon the port of load. This means speed to market, which is a key consideration for exporters of perishable produce."
MSC not only ensures competitive transit times, but also that their services from New Zealand are able to efficiently link into their global network at major transhipment hubs – limiting any dwell time at transhipment points.
Steve Wright: "Each apple client is different, and we tailor our services as per each and every client’s specific requirements of MSC.”
"For clients like Golden Bay Fruit, who are shipping their perishable fruit vast distances, such as from New Zealand to the UK and European markets - some of the longest reefer sea miles of any global trade lane - one of their main requirements is having reliable refrigerated containers that will take care of their cargo all the way through to its final destination.”
Calling at Nelson weekly and year-round with the Kiwi Express that then sails directly onwards to Singapore and Tanjung Pelepas means that MSC offers competitive transit times from Nelson to all of the key international apple markets. This implies that Golden Bay Fruit have the option to ship cargo each and every week during their season. Fast transit times are also high on the priority list for apple exporters.
Steve Wright: "At MSC, we also provide our apple clients with direct access to our vastly experienced local apple specialists based in our New Zealand’s head office in Christchurch. On top of this, MSC can also count on local presence in Auckland and Tauranga, effectively ensuring coverage on both North and South Islands. Our experts work closely with clients to develop tailor-made customer care platforms that are carefully designed to meet the specific needs and requirements of their businesses, including local customer service representation as a single point of contact and regular shipment monitoring, tracking, and mapping reports.”
"MSC’s customers in New Zealand know that they can count on our 25 year-experience in transporting perishable produce over vast distances from the country. We have been working with Golden Bay Fruit for some years now, developing a strong partnership over this time. They therefore appreciate the stability and long-term partnerships we offer."
MSC has 1,000 reefer experts globally, who provide customers with global solutions and a personalised tailor-made customer service. The company understands what they need and advises them through each step of the preparation of their refrigerated shipment and helps them to develop new business in existing and potential new markets.
Steve Wright: "Having flexibility within our services also helps us negotiate the ongoing congestion issues that is currently being experienced at several ports within Oceania, in particular at Auckland and Tauranga – as well as Sydney, Australia. MSC can speed up our vessels to and from New Zealand by making significant investments in additional bunkers in order to move the cargo quickly from the port of load through to its direct destination. With port congestion at all-time highs, particularly through Auckland, it is important that MSC makes these investments to meet clients’ expectations of timely shipment of goods."
MSC continue to invest in the best-refrigerated transport solutions for all kinds of fruit and vegetables to respond to the growing demand, driven by Europe and underpinned by Asia’s rapidly expanding middle classes. “By investing in new reefer containers, we are able to alleviate some of the issues around equipment supply with new units being made available in the necessary markets they are needed.”
COVID has had a significant impact on global trade and the shipping industry, in particular there are the well-documented issues with global container shortages.
"All shipping lines have some issues with getting containers into the Oceania region due to a number of reasons - exceptionally high container demand overseas; congested ports and container depots; delays in equipment being returned, and full Southbound trades into New Zealand limiting space on ships for empty containers to be repositioned back into the country. MSC is doing its utmost to ensure container supply in Oceania meets the current high demand."
For more information:
James Granville
MSC
Tel: +1 212 827 1624
Email: [email protected]
www.msc.com