Crunch time for apple exports

Reefers tapping power of the generators Agbiz installed at Cape Town port.

Container drivers and fruit farmers in Western Cape are now waiting to see if this year will be better than the costly 25/26 fruit export season, when some 1,688 reefers got delayed in Cape Town.

This resulted in a lot of expedited work for container drivers. Fruit exporters reportedly spent over R135 million to double the container volume sent to Gquberha harbour. 

They also sent 1,200 trucks to Walvis Bay and 900 trucks all the way from Cape Town to eThekwini, all to get their perishable grapes and apples and peaches on ships en route to 90 export markets asfap.

Hortco reports that fruit farmers this year expect a 13% increase in exports and the industry have been working with Transnet since January to ensure their refrigerated reefers will be stacked in time for ship arrivals from November to April.

Transnet has hired extra temp workers, greased equipment, rescheduled December leave and published a fixed weekly vessel schedule of ship arrivals, supported by a 21-day berthing plan.

While the fruit farmers are holding thumbs that things will proceed to plan in the Cape of Storms, container drivers are ready with Plan B. Only this year, eThekwini is not part of the plan.

Not while the Navis N4 system, combined with equipment breakdowns and long turnaround times, cause ships to wait at anchorage for more than a month while truckers queue for days on every available road aroud Maydon Wharf, waiting for a slot.

(Written for SA Trucker.)