"Our cold logistics model specializing in fruit and vegetables is an alternative to the congested port of Algeciras"

There continues to be an upward trend in container movement in the Port of Huelva, with an increase of 25.5% and a total movement of more than 56,100 TEUs. With these figures, the port is consolidating as an increasingly strategic enclave for maritime traffic, and Friportsur has positioned itself as a key player in the cold logistics chain, offering specialized refrigeration and freezing services to a rapidly evolving agro-food sector.

"Its logistics center, located next to the Intermodal Railway Terminal, is a key platform for both local producers and international operators, especially in the soft fruit sector," says José Gómez, plant manager, and Juan Antonio Domínguez, the company's sales manager.

"Friportsur's main activity is the preservation of goods at controlled temperatures, either refrigerated or frozen. We work with any kind of product that can be frozen, although due to location and volume, our clients are mostly fruit and vegetable growers; however, we also offer services to the seafood and meat sectors, among others."

"Friportsur offers its clients a modern, high-capacity, fully automated refrigerated warehouse that is ready to meet all logistical needs during both fresh produce campaigns and periods when there's a greater volume of products intended for the processing industry. Its location within the port allows for multimodal operations, facilitating the transit of sea containers, road transport, and rail connections."

"We specialize in offering an integral service, from the reception of the goods to their preservation and subsequent delivery for export or national distribution," offering various logistical services. "In addition to storage, Friportsur manages export and import operations, and offers support for frozen and refrigerated containers, which are increasingly used on international routes."

Morocco and the rise of frozen produce
One of the most important developments in the Huelva port area has been the launch of a new maritime route from Morocco on March 7 this year, promoted by a business consortium that includes Suardiaz and GTO. This connection has opened up new opportunities for fruit and vegetable trade between North Africa and Europe via Huelva, especially for frozen berries.

"For us, this new route entails a potential improvement in our service to exporters and importers. Although we are also seeing a trend change in Huelva, where more fruit is being frozen. The bad weather this season has led to surpluses of fresh produce that have ended up frozen, so industrial volumes have increased this season. For us, this has meant an increase of around 30% in the volume of frozen fruit this season, driven partly by the rains and the early closure of the fresh market."

Towards a sustainable logistics model
Parallel to its operational activity, Friportsur forms part of an ecosystem of companies in the Port of Huelva that are committed to a more sustainable energy model. One of the most outstanding projects is the future implementation of a tri-energy system, which will combine conventional electricity, solar energy, and cold-heat generated by regasification of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

"By next year, we hope to be able to start benefiting from this new energy model, which will allow us to choose the most efficient source, depending on the time of day," says the company. "Energy optimization is especially relevant in such an electricity-intensive activity as industrial refrigeration.

"Our cold logistics model, which combines the reception of land freight and containerized goods, specializing in goods as sensitive as refrigerated and frozen fruit and vegetables, is an alternative to the congested port of Algeciras, and is strengthening Huelva's position as an important logistics hub in southern Europe."

© FriportsurFor more information:
Friportsur
Pza. Autoridad Puerto de Huelva S/N. Muelle Sur.
21810. Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain
Tel.: +34 670 65 64 65
[email protected]
www.friportsur.com