Hamburg Süd, Maersk to Discuss Reefer Container Trade

Peter Frederiksen, Member of the Executive Board at Hamburg Süd and Thomas Eskesen, Global Head of Refrigerated Business at Maersk Line will be providing two separate keynote addresses at the fifth Cool Logistics Global, taking place in Rotterdam from September 24-26.

Exactly one year after Maersk’s momentous announcement about reefer rate restoration at Cool Logistics Global 2012, Thomas Eskesen will review the results of these measures and provide an outlook about the challenges facing the global reefer sector today. Looking more broadly at the health of container shipping overall, Peter Fredriksen is expected to review the impact of current carrier strategies on shippers of chilled and frozen cargoes. The two carrier executives will speak in the opening session on the morning of September 24.

With reports suggesting that the $1,500 reefer GRI initiated this January by Maersk and other major container carriers has met with mixed success, will the industry be in better shape come September than at the start of the year? Given that the reefer sector cannot be ring-fenced from the general container trades, reports of continued downward pressure on Asia-Europe freight rates spreading to other trades, as carriers cascade larger vessels through the global shipping network, also does not bode well for carrier revenues.

The shipping industry’s ability to supply sufficient refrigerated containers to keep pace with perishables trade growth remains a key source of concern. With the global perishables trade set to continue growing at 4.5% a year until 2016, according to Drewry Shipping Consultants, the industry needs to invest in around 100,000-110,000 new reefer boxes every year, says David Marjoram, Owner at David Marjoram Ltd. Marjoram will chair the Reefer Operations Day on 26 September, where new approaches to improve reefer equipment utilisation will be among the discussion topics.

“Around 115,000 new reefer containers were produced in 2012, but early indications suggest that there could be a purchasing shortfall of around 25,000 new reefer boxes this year by the carriers, placing the onus once again on the leasing sector to pick up the slack,” said Alex von Stempel, Director at Cool Logistics Resources. The global transport industry’s ability to keep up with demand, including increased perishables trade in emerging markets, will be the topic of lively debate in the annual Maritime Outlook debate on the afternoon of 24 September. The role of airfreight in meeting international transport needs will also be explored in-depth in a parallel Airfreight Outlook session.

Cool Logistics Global is convened this year under the headline theme “Transparent, efficient and fair: Charting a new course for global perishable supply chain operations.” Covering two days of business sessions, a full day of operational debate, field trips to a FloraHolland flower auction and Maasvlakte 2 port development, plus two evening receptions, the event once again brings together shippers, carriers, 3PLs, ports and terminals, technology providers and other key stakeholders to network in advance of annual contract negotiations.

The full program and list of participating speakers and delegate companies can be viewed at www.coollogisticsconference.com