Geopolitical tensions and port congestion are extending the delivery time of refrigerated containers by 10 days, directly threatening the quality of sensitive fruit products.

Geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and congestion at major seaports are causing serious disruptions in the global cold chain supply. This not only increases logistics costs but also directly degrades the quality of sensitive export fruit items such as grapes and berries due to extended delivery times.

Pressure from port infrastructure and delivery times.

Shipping disruptions are forcing many shipping routes to be diverted, extending the average delivery time for refrigerated containers by approximately 10 days. In South Africa, the waiting time for refrigerated containers at the port of Cape Town has now increased to 10-14 days, more than three times the previous average of 4 days.

A similar situation has been observed in Europe, particularly at the port of Rotterdam. Peruvian businesses report that congestion there is significantly impacting exports of blueberries and fresh grapes – commodities that rely heavily on short logistics cycles to maintain freshness.

Impact on the commercial quality of fruit

Fresh grapes and berries are considered among the commodities most severely impacted by the unpredictable logistics environment. Prolonged shipping times lead to increased dehydration, reduced firmness, and higher spoilage rates. Analysts believe that, under current conditions, maintaining a cold chain alone is insufficient to guarantee product quality upon arrival at the destination market.

Even fruit groups with better shelf life, such as citrus fruits and apples, are beginning to show negative impacts, including:

- Loss of freshness and the appearance of physiological disturbances.

- Reduce consumption time at retail stores.

- Increased inventory levels at port cold storage facilities are disrupting export programs.

Businesses are increasing investment in preservation technology.

Faced with structural challenges from geopolitical tensions and extreme weather, export businesses are increasing investment in post-harvest preservation technology. This is seen as a key solution to maintaining the freshness and shelf life of products during long-term storage and transportation.

According to representatives from AgroFresh, current post-harvest management programs focus primarily on controlling spoilage and maintaining firmness for sensitive fruit groups. The application of advanced technologies not only helps protect product value but also minimizes economic risks for exporters in the context of a still volatile global supply chain.

Source: Vietnam.vn