This year, Colombia predicts a 64% increase in containerised refrigerated exports to Europe, which highlights the importance of shipping companies in foreign trade. Juan Camilo Vásquez, Maersk Line Sales Manager for Colombia, commented that "the most important part of this process is to be able to connect the supply of agricultural products from America and the high technology services that shipping companies offer with the international markets."
In 2015, exports of refrigerated cargo from Colombia accounted for an average of 12% of the total foreign trade in containers. At the end of the third half of 2016, exports accounted for 21% of foreign trade. "These figures reflect Maersk Line's efforts to open new routes to facilitate the distribution of refrigerated cargo, especially of fruits and vegetables. This year, we continued to develop controlled-atmosphere equipment and have included remote real-time monitoring to our refrigerated cargo," affirmed Vásquez.
"This is due to the global demand for fruits and vegetables. By arriving at more ports, we facilitate the connection with international markets and reduce the transit time to some destinations. This reduction in the transit time of the fruit results in a fresher product for the consumer; for example, we are bringing fruit to Japan, which was not possible in the past, and now it is not only feasible, but also achieved with good results when it comes to the quality of the product," added Vásquez.
Maersk works with both large companies and small exporters, offering them continuous support. "Our services are contributing to boost Colombian exports. For example, Hass avocados, which have specific requirements for their conservation, have been able to enter new markets due to their export in refrigerated containers," concluded Juan Camilo Vásquez.
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