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GROWTH within Port of Antwerp's cold chain segment is set to persist in 2021, reports Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide.
Reefer container handled at the port increased 2.7 per cent in 2021 compared to 2020, with the one million TEU mark of operational reefer containers passed for the second year in a row.
The growth was driven by a six per cent increase in export volumes. Sixty per cent of the containers handled in the Port of Antwerp are destined for export.
The share of reefer container volumes is 8.2 per cent of the total container traffic in the port.
"Our eating habits have a positive bearing on reefer rates. Meal boxes with fresh produce are becoming increasingly popular. Moreover, supermarkets are exploring ways they can deliver fresh groceries to the customers' homes," said Perishables Expertise Group (PEG).
"This phenomenon is already popular in the United Kingdom and is expected to blow over to Belgium. Many consumers are consciously choosing a plant-based diet and are looking for an expanded range of fruits, vegetables, and meat substitutes. Preferably all year round," said the PEG.
"The current fleet of conventional reefer ships was competed out of the market before the health crisis because of their high bunker costs. However, this type of vessel fits perfectly within the current system of refrigerated storage and cross-docking. Since these vessels can be loaded and unloaded quickly and the infrastructure lends itself to it, a new and environmentally friendly generation of conventional reefer vessels could once again play a significant role in the future."
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