In 2020's first half, the Netherlands received 2.8% more goods by sea, in reefer containers, than at the same time last year. More fruit was delivered while the supply of vegetables and meat decreased.
Total containerized goods arrivals by sea decreased by 1.6% over the period. That's evident from Statistics Netherlands' new figures. These are on the international transport of goods by sea.
The sea supply of refrigerated and frozen goods sent to the Netherlands amounted to 5,6 million tons in 2020's first six months. That's 17% of all container-transported goods.
An increase in mainly fruit supplies
The overseas supply of fruit in reefer containers has been increasing for years. In the first half of 2020, the supply of fruit rose by 162,000 tons to 3.2 million tons. Fruit now represent 57% of the total supply of chilled goods in containers by sea.
Fish supplies also increased in 2020's first half, to 544,000 tons. Fruit and fish were not only supplied to the Netherlands in reefer containers. In the first six months of the year, they were brought in reefer vessels too - to the tune of 190,000 tons of fruit and almost 150,000 tons of frozen fish.
The amount of vegetables supplied in reefer containers fell by 111,000 tons (24%) during that time. The quantities of meat and meat products supplied also decreased. It fell by 65,000 tons to 602,000 tons. Meat and vegetables are rarely transported in reefer vessels.
5 billion bananas
Banana supplies to the Netherlands increased by 101,000 tons to 844,000 tons. That's more than a quarter of all fruit supplies (3,2 million tons). Let's assume a banana weighs 200g on average. That amount equals about 4,2 billion bananas. A further 155,000 tons of bananas were also shipped on refrigerated vessels in the first six months of the year. So, this represents a total supply of around five billion bananas.
In 2020's first two quarters, avocado supplies rose to 225,000 tons. This fruit, therefore, takes the third position - it follows bananas and grapes - when it comes to chilled container fruit supplies. In 2019, avocados were still in fifth place, after apples and oranges.
Most cooled containers came from just three countries
More than a quarter of all the goods that reached the Netherlands in refrigerated containers in 2020's first half came from Brazil, South Africa, and Panama. That represents almost 1,5 million tons. Each of these countries shipped 500,000 tons of goods.
Ecuador is the biggest grower in terms of supply of refrigerated goods to the Netherlands. In the first half of this year, 245,000 tons more chilled goods came from this country than in the first half of 2019. The transport of refrigerated goods from neighboring Colombia fell from 228,000 tonnes (first half of 2019) to 90,000 tonnes (first half of 2020).
Source: CBS