With the recent strikes at the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam, the question of how to address the resulting delays and operational issues arises once again. "It is a growing irritant and on a micro level it can be frustrating, but on a larger scale, you can see that as an industry we are already capable of responding flexibly. The tools are already there. During the coronavirus pandemic and also the recent strikes, we have always managed to keep the sector running successfully," says Steve Alaerts of Foodcareplus.
© Foodcareplus
On Monday, new punctuality strikes were again announced at the port of Antwerp for early November. "When strikes are announced, the question always comes up about how to effectively anticipate them," he continues. "Here, you have to distinguish between imports and exports. Examining import loads reveals that there is often less flexibility. It is difficult for companies to change the destination in case of potential strikes at a port, because shipping companies organise their shipping plans so that containers are handled according to a fixed unloading schedule. Cargo that needs to go to Antwerp, for example, is placed in a specific part of the ship, so moving to another port is not easy. Adjusting cargo planning often involves high costs and is not always practical. However, there are scenarios where a shipping company may decide to skip a port of call and unload the cargo elsewhere, for example, in Rotterdam instead of Antwerp."
"However, what is important to remember is that one should not focus on the ETA at the port, but on the arrival time at the end customer. This is a crucial change in thinking that is needed in modern supply chains. In general, one or two strike days are not something to panic about. Congestion at European ports and in transport in general is already so structural and delays occur so regularly that many logistics service providers have fully adapted their business processes to it. What ultimately matters is the transit time to the final recipient. Whether a ship arrives via Rotterdam or Antwerp, the most important thing is that the cargo reaches the customer on time."
Shifting processes
Steve points out that the flexibility of the industry plays an important role here. "With imports, the challenge is somewhat greater, but in terms of exports, we already have much more flexibility. If a ship is delayed or a port is inaccessible due to a strike, the cargo can often leave via another port. The proximity of ports in Europe and our network of operational partners make this relatively easy. If you operate in only one port, you have to respond differently, but we operate through gateways across Europe. This is especially true for products such as plants and phytosanitary goods, where we can shift processes within Europe. That gives us a clear advantage over sectors dealing with animal products, where flexibility is much more limited."
© Jannick Flach | FreshPlaza.com
Steve Alaerts (second from left) with Henning Goedecke, Diego Barriga (Foodcareplus), and Jan Zobel (Heuer Logistics) at the past Fruit Logistica
"Delays obviously have an impact, especially with fresh products like fruit and vegetables. Quality can suffer, and it requires careful planning to ensure that the products still reach the end customer in good condition. Yet, as an industry, we have the resources and processes in place to act quickly. For example, if a container arrives in Antwerp instead of Rotterdam, we can still handle the goods efficiently. It sometimes means trucks have to drive further, but operationally this is quite feasible."
Contingencies
He therefore sees that such delays can obviously be very annoying, but can now be anticipated quite well. "It is important to realise that delays in one port always have an impact on other ports as well, especially if they are next in the sailing plan after the stalled port. In practice, however, we have seen that our teams respond effectively and find logistical solutions. The recent strikes and disruptions in Rotterdam and Antwerp proved that we can act successfully even in these crises. Of course, this is never ideal for fresh produce, but delivery to the end customer remains guaranteed."
"Our industry is well prepared for this kind of disruption. We have contingency plans, can handle containers flexibly, and ensure that market access is maintained, regardless of whether the cargo arrives in Belgium, France, or the Netherlands," Steve explains. "It involves extra costs and sometimes a loss of quality, but it does not stop the process. Thanks to this agility, even in uncertain times, we can keep the flow of goods moving and ensure that products ultimately reach the end customer. All this shows that logistics agility and sector experience are crucial. We have learned that it is not just about the arrival of ships, but about the entire process from port to end customer. And despite the challenges, our teams remain resilient and solution-oriented, as we have proven before during other crises, such as the pandemic."
For more information:
Steve Alaerts
Foodcareplus Logistics
Oudeleeuwenrui 25
2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Tel: +32 3 242 91 50
[email protected]
www.foodcareplus.com
