The Loadstar: Reefers to the rescue as the cool chain rides the ripples of pandemic disruption

Welcome & Session 4: Session on the global cold supply chain and the pandemic

Buoyant reefer trades could provide an opening for niche players to challenge the major container lines. Refrigerated markets have proved more resilient to the pandemic and economic downturn than other cargo types, according to Greg Tuthill, senior VP of SeaCube Containers. “Population growth and urbanisation continues to demand more food from different regions,” he told the Cool Logistics Global conference last week. Annual growth in reefer container shipping could reach 4-6% through to 2024, Mr Tuthill predicted, “irrespective of how we recover from the pandemic.” To read more click here

El Mercantil: La cadena logística del frío apuesta por el valor añadido de las nuevas tecnologías

Welcome & Session 4: Session on the global cold supply chain and the pandemic

La mayor demanda de información sobre los productos en general, pero especialmente sobre los perecederos, ha obligado a que los actores de la supply chain evolucionen de forma progresiva hacia modelos dotados de mayor trazabilidad y transparencia en todo el proceso, basados en la innovación y la digitalización. Sin embargo, el jefe de la división Digital y de Información de Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) y presidente de Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA), Andre Simha, ha advertido de que las nuevas tecnologías "solo tienen sentido si aportan valor a la cadena de suministro cuando las usas". To read more click here

 

AGF: Cool Logistics Conference belicht gevolgen van de Covid-19-pandemie

Welcome & Session 4: Session on the global cold supply chain and the pandemic

Cool Logistics Global is het toonaangevende evenement en forum voor logistiek, expeditie en supply chain professionals die zich richten op ladingen met beperkt houdbare producten. Het 2020 virtuele evenement wordt gehost door de Haven van Rotterdam met als thema 'Redesigning the Cold Chain': Imagine, Transform and Rebuild'. To read more click here

Mundo Maritimo: Cool Logistics Global 2020 Virtual Edition: logística reefer con y sin pandemia

Day 2 Welcome: Session on the global cold supply chain and the pandemic

As Emile Hoogsteden, commercial vice president Port of Rotterdam, put the world at the forefront, said,but that doesn't mean we can't keep growing, learning and improving. The pandemic has come to define certain trends that were taking shape before the coronavirus outbreak, accelerating the transition to a more digital, technological world and with a more time-sensitive delivery system: "We want our food fresh and we want it now," Hoogsteden said as part of his opening words for the second-day session of the Cool Logistics 2020 Virtual Edition conference, focused on perishable cargo. To read more click here

 

Fresh Plaza: Covid-19 and China demand sends ripples across global reefer trades

Coverage of Day 2: Session on the global cold supply chain and the pandemic

Demand for reefer equipment has been caused by a substantial demand increase in China where production for certain foods has crashed, causing a 40% growth in demand and a shortage of reefer equipment in the deficit regions for reefer boxes. Speaking at the Cool Logistics virtual conference, Thomas Eskesen, the founder of Eskesen Advisory, based in Denmark, said that a failure in pork production in China had seen demand there for the meat shoot up to 80 million tonnes, with demand overall increasing 40% this year and including increased demand for poultry and beef. To read more click here

FreshPlaza: There could be a gap in the fruit market coming out of Chile this season

Coverage of Day 2: Session on the global cold supply chain and the pandemic

One of the world's leading refrigerated container leasing companies says the COVID-19 pandemic actually led to more demand for its services. Greg Tuthill, SVP and Chief Commercial Officer at SeaCube, told the online Cold Logistics forum that while there was early concern across the shipping industry back in March 2020 about the coronavirus disruptions, and what that could mean for market stability. He noted that many countries experienced empty retail shelves from panic buying, but the bounce back actually led to accelerated demand in some regions for temperature controlled refrigerated containers. To read more click here

FreshPlaza: Rethinking the cold chain nodes to market

Coverage of Day 3: Session on rethinking the cold chain

On Thursday, the final day of Cool Logistics 2020, the first speaker on the topic 'Rethinking cold chain nodes & modes to market' was a well known face at the conference: Albert Cheung Founder, JC Food Republic, Hong Kong. He spoke about the Japan Reefer on Rail project and the future of rail technology. The technology in Japan has evolved and there has been a pilot test of the Hyokan container on JR railways. Hyokan technology – The "ice feeling" in English – is controlled by high voltage with micro vibration applied creating a condition where water molecules will stay apart without freezing even in below zero temperatures.To read more click here

FreshPlaza: "Each of us can do it on our own, or do it together"

Coverage of Day1: Session titled 'Fastest route to freshness'

One of the world's leading container shipping companies is encouraging customers who rely on logistics to transport food to become more collaborative in developing a more digitally advanced industry to cope with future demand. MSC is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and its Global Chief Digital and Information Officer, Andre Simha, spoke as part of the online Cool Logistics forum. He says companies need to work together to challenge business models, and drive the entire supply chain towards a new era of connectivity, transparency and efficiency. To read more click here

FreshPlaza: Global cold supply chain during and beyond the pandemic

Coverage of Day 1: Session on the global cold supply chain

Philip Gray, Head of Reefer Shipping Research, Drewry Shipping, Belgium was the first speaker and spoke about how the reefer trade slowed in 2019 and so far was weathering the COVID storm quite well and is expected to grow. He spoke about the shift in trade towards China. In 2009, 27 million tons was shipped in reefer containers which grew to 50 million tons in 2019 which more recently has been due to increased meat imports. He predicted that specialised reefer fleet capacity will decline. Container equipment availability is forecast to remain tight and highly imbalanced, which will reefer container freight rates. To read more click here

FreshPlaza: Future proofing leadership and skills training

Coverage of Day 1: Session on Leadership and skills training 

Steve Cameron, Director at Cameron Marine is moderating the conference. He said that these days the industry is less segmented than it used to be and asked how often do we find ourselves dealing with people who don’t know the business but have a big influence on our bottom line? Radu Palamariu, Managing Director Asia Pacific Chief Energy Officer, Alcott Global said that COVID had accelerated the digital transformation of the industry with many people working from home. He does not see us going back to working in the office fulltime, there will be less expensive city centre offices and more out sourcing, possibly from other countries and automation of the whole cold chain will increase. Recruiters will be looking for people who are trained end-to-end and people who can adapt quickly to change.To read more click here