EU: Last 3 years Air delivery has been increased

The air shipments of fruit and vegetables in comparison with ten years ago has decreased, but in the last three years it has risen again. Says Hans Jansen of logistics service LBP. Ready to eat mangoes have an important share. "These mangoes come mostly from Brazil. We note that the experts prefer air because within three to four days after harvest they are in the shops. This is a specialized profession and requires a lot of knowledge of the market."

Still the air freight is often used for importing the first products of a new season. "It's often just for a few days to get the product on the market and then it comes in a container." Examples are blueberries and cherries from Chile from Canada. Hans says that 10/12 years ago grapes and kiwis arrived by air, but that is largely past. "Emerging markets are Vietnam with Pitaya and vegetables, India with grapes and exotics and Chile with raspberries and blackberries." He say that Thailand remains an important country for air freight, this is where where mini-vegetables and herbs come from.

Hans expects that the air freight will always remain for fruit and vegetables. He expects steady progress in the next decade. "People will pay, especially for good for mangoes. The cost price $ 1.20 per kilo covers the costs." He expects that the first trade of the season will always continue to make use of the air.

At Bud Holland most exotic fruits come by air. "The specific properties of these products make transport by sea simply not (yet) possible," said Peter Hobert. "So we import a lot of ready to eat naturally ripened mangoes and papayas, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Mali and Ivory Coast." There are also artificially ripened mangoes, papayas and avocados available. "The real experts are willing to pay more for naturally ripened and therefore the flown in fresh product."

In addition, the air freight is more flexible, which makes more adequate trading possible. "We often have a product from Brazil for example more quickly than one from southern Spain. Logistically sea freight requires more time planning in advance."

For more information: www.lbprotterdam.nl