Fresh Del Monte has partnered with CMA CGM Group to transition banana and pineapple shipments from traditional breakbulk vessels to containerised cold chain solutions. For many years, bananas and pineapples bound for Japan and Korea have been transported on breakbulk vessels. These ships, designed for heavy or irregular cargo, expose fruit to variable temperatures and multiple handling stages, increasing the risk of quality loss.
"Customer satisfaction starts long before the fruit reaches the shelf—it begins with how we move it," said Raul Saca, SVP, Global Logistics at Fresh Del Monte. "By transitioning to dedicated container vessels, we're not only improving cold chain reliability and minimising damage but also creating a more agile, scalable logistics model that better serves our retail partners across Asia."
The containerised model allows fruit to remain in consistent, temperature-controlled environments from farm to customer. This approach also reduces waste, improves reliability, and brings carbon efficiency benefits compared to breakbulk transport.
"This partnership with Fresh Del Monte reflects our shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction," said Bo Wegener, Chief Executive Officer of CMA CGM Asia Pacific. "In addition to benefits from containerisation, CMA CGM's expertise in fruits and fresh produce logistics offers improved solutions that add value to both producers and consumers."
CMA CGM is offering two key service routes for the new shipments. The JP8 Service provides direct connections from Davao to Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe, and Moji for the Japanese market. The BMX Service connects Davao to Busan, South Korea, on a weekly basis.
The companies noted that beyond operational efficiency, the move to containerised shipping also reduces the environmental footprint of banana and pineapple logistics.
Source: Sustainability Magazine