Posts Tagged “feature”
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reports that global shipping costs surged in the first half of the year due to disruptions in maritime routes and rising operational expenses.
The high costs, the organization adds, are straining the supply chain and may threaten vulnerable economies, raising concerns over trade sustainability, economic growth, and the global effort to achieve sustainable development goals.
UNCTAD attributes much of the increase in freight rates to rerouted vessels, port congestion, and higher operational costs. The report highlights examples like the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI), where congestion reportedly more than doubled compared to late 2023.
“As of 18 October 2024, the SCFI was down 45% from its 2024 high and 60% below its record level during COVID-19,” the organization states. “However, it remained 115% above the pre-pandemic average and more than double the 2023 average.”
Due to these conditions, the average rate on the SCFI Shanghai–South America route more than doubled to $9,026 per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU), marking the highest level since September 2022 from January to July 2024.
“During the same period, the SCFI Shanghai–South Africa route saw its average rate almost triple to $5,426 per TEU (the highest since July 2022), while the SCFI Shanghai–West Africa average rate jumped 137% to $5,563 per TEU (the highest since August 2022),” UNCTAD reports.
Florida citrus shipments will be off this season compared to last year because of some major hurricanes and storms. How much of a decline remains to be seen.
Category 3 Hurricane Milton, hit Florida on Oct. 10, and barrelled through nearly 70% of the state’s most productive citrus counties, reported Florida Citrus Mutual of Bartow, FL.
The storm arrived just before harvest, making the fruit highly susceptible to the strong winds, causing substantial fruit drop and damaging trees.
During the 2023-24 season, Florida’s citrus growers produced 17.97 million boxes of oranges, 1.79 million boxes of grapefruit and 450,000 boxes of tangelos and tangerines for a total of about 20.2 million boxes — an increase from 15.85 million boxes during the 2022-23 season, according to Citrus Mutual.
USDA’s first crop estimate of the 2024-25 harvest season released Oct. 11 forecast 15 million boxes of oranges, 1.4 million boxes of grapefruit and 400,000 boxes of tangerines and tangelos — a total of 16.8 million boxes. However, the estimate was released before Hurricane Milton made landfall. Future forecasts are expected to reflect a reduction in production.
The biggest impact in Central Florida came from Hurricane Milton, reports the 100-year-old Dundee Citrus Growers Association, Dundee, FL, parent company of Florida Classic Growers Inc., which also handles U.S. and Canadian marketing for Riverfront Packing, Vero Beach, FL.
Milton knocked a lot of fruit on the ground, tipped some trees over and did some damage to the operation’s packinghouse.
Some groves with navel oranges and hamlin juice oranges lost over half their crop, but it could have been worse, the company noted.
Dundee Fruit is still running pretty steady right, because it has a fair amount of citrus under protective screens protecting against fruit damage.
Feek Family Citrus and DLF Packing in Fort Pierce, FL, were fortunate.
The company lost 20% to 30% of its fall crop, mostly navel oranges, but did not experience any storm damage to its packinghouse.
The company’s main crop of valencia oranges should start shipping after the holidays and will continue from storage into July.
The firm is finished building a new cooler and should have new offices ready sometime in December. The new facility occupies 35,000 square feet and will be an addition to its existing packinghouse.
Georgia Ports handled 494,261 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) last month, marking an increase of more than 45,000 TEUs, or 10%, according to a press release from Georgia Ports Authority (GPA).
It was the third busiest October on record for GPA, following 2021 and 2022, when more than half a million TEUs passed through the Port of Savannah.
Record-breaking trade at the Appalachian Regional Port also boosted GPA’s performance. The Northwest Georgia inland port recorded an October high of 3,666 rail lifts, a 4.4% increase compared to the previous year.
For the first four months of fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024–Oct. 31, 2024), GPA has moved 1.9 million TEUs, an increase of 211,320 TEUs, or 12%.
In the Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) segment, Colonel’s Island Terminal handled 68,569 units of autos and high/heavy machinery in October. For the fiscal year to date, RoRo units totaled 300,647, an increase of 10.6%.
Georgia Ports also secured a $46 million Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Ports Program grant in October to enhance its electrification infrastructure. The grant will support ships at berth by enabling them to plug into shore power, reducing the need for auxiliary diesel engines.
The grant also funds the replacement of diesel-powered terminal tractors with electric models and the installation of electric charging infrastructure. “These initiatives are designed to create positive impacts for the community and ensure we’re a good neighbor,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch.
On the heels of Thanksgiving, the unofficial sweet potato eating holiday, The North Carolina Sweet potato Commission (NCSC) of Benson, NC, is reporting a smaller annual yield despite a slight increase in acreage after a challenging growing and harvest season.
Estimates are that yields may be down 20-30% across the industry.
Despite the reduction, North Carolina remains the largest producer of sweet potatoes in the nation, producing over 60% of the total sweet potatoes grown in the U.S. The state has held that leadership position since 1971. That leadership continues today thanks to an industry focused on sustainability in production across the supply chain to meet changing industry demands.
Changes in sweet potato production are not uncommon. Over the last 10+ years, there has been volume movement up and down because of weather conditions, global markets, the pandemic and its lingering impacts on the foodservice industry, as well as the continued reality of rising input costs and labor challenges.
Michelle Grainger, executive director of the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission remarked, “2023 and 2024 have proven to be challenging years for agriculture in North Carolina that have forced sweet potato growers to make hard decisions to stabilize our industry.”
About the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission
Founded in 1961 the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission is a nonprofit corporation made up of over 300 sweetpotato producers, along with the packers and business associates that support them. NCSC is committed to supporting its growers and increasing sweetpotato consumption through education, promotional activities, research, and honorable horticultural practices among its producers.
Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA in a press release reports low temperatures in the Arizona and California deserts have resulted in ice forming on lettuce in the growing fields.
- The Arizona/California desert growing region is experiencing the coldest weather of the season, causing significant lettuce ice
- After several days of cool wind gusts, morning temperatures have dipped into the upper 20°s to low 30°s
- Short-term challenges include:
- Dehydration
- Harvesting and loading delays
- Stalled plant growth
- Markon inspectors are monitoring crops and supplies closely for long-term quality challenges that include:
- Discoloration
- Epidermal blister/peel
- Low case weights
- Shortened shelf-life
The Port of Antioquia in Colombia is currently under construction and will serve as a multipurpose terminal. Its construction phase is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025.
Located on the southeastern side of the Gulf of Urabá in Antioquia, the port will have the capacity to handle general cargo, vehicles, refrigerated and dry containers, and solid and liquid bulk, excluding hydrocarbons.
The port terminal will prioritize technology, safety, and high-quality processes, infrastructure, and services to capitalize on the opportunities presented by its strategic location as the closest port in the Caribbean— 217 miles away from Colombia’s main production and consumption centers.
Agro-exports rely on every link in the export chain to reach the final consumer, and ports play a fundamental role in managing export shipments. This is especially critical for fruit, which is a perishable product and requires rapid handling to ensure it is shipped as quickly as possible.
The National Association of Foreign Trade (Analdex) notes the Port of Antioquia is multipurpose and located in deep water, at 54 feet, which allows the arrival of various types of vessels.
The port should start operations by the end of the first quarter of 2025.
The port has five berthing positions and it is hoped by themiddle of the year the port will expand to two or three. By the end of 2025, there very well could be five berthing positions.
The Port of Antioquia has foreign investment, including support from the World Bank through the IFC, in addition to national investors.
General cargo will have a capacity of 450,000 tons, 650,000 containers, and 2.5 million tons of solid bulk.
Since the port is capable of receiving large ships, because it is 54 feet deep, so there is no problem of access for modern ships of 24,000 containers, which is what will arrive in Chancay. In addition, it will have a total of 1,200 plugs for refrigerated containers.
Bananas, Hass avocados, coffee, and exotic fruits, including pitahaya and uchuva, will be exported since the port has the possibility of using refrigerated containers.
The objective is to reach the East Coast of the United States and Europe, which currently receive a significant portion of Colombia’s fruit exports.
With the conclusion of the Mexican mango season, South American exports are ramping up on a weekly basis, with the U.S. being a primary destination.
Brazil started shipping in August and, as of early November, the country had moved 5.7 million boxes of a total expected volume of 7.6 million boxes for the season, according to Agraria.
Brazil is the fourth-largest supplier of mangos to the U.S., after Mexico, Peru and Ecuador. However, last season it ranked third on this list, as Ecuadorian and Peruvian production was affected by poor weather conditions.
The National Mango Board of Orlando, FL reports Brazil will be exporting more fruit to Europe, and shipments to the United States are expected to be down nearly 38 percent from a year ago.
Additionally, Ecuador’s mango exports to the U.S. started earlier and stronger this season, expecting to be over 160 percent higher than in 2023. As a result, Brazil is looking to the European market.
Ecuador is expected to play a much larger role in supplying mangos to the U.S. market compared to last year. During the 2023-2024 season, the country’s mango production was hit hard by El Niño, resulting in a significant decline in volumes.
Last year, the Ecuador exported about 5 million boxes of mangos compared to 14 million in a normal year. This year, Ecuador is expected to return to normal, with an estimated volume of 14 million boxes for the U.S. market.
Peru, the second largest supplier of mangos to the US., also expects a much better season. Last year, the country saw a 74 percent reduction in volume shipped as a result of adverse weather conditions. Instead of the 6.1 million boxes shipped last year, Peru expects to get back on track this year, with an estimated shipment of more than 23 million boxes to the U.S., from early October to early March 2025.
Peru expects to hit the milestone of shipping one million boxes per week during the holiday season.
Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death worldwide. However, a new study highlighted strawberries as a natural and delicious way to support cardiometabolic health and control cholesterol, according to the California Strawberry Commission.
The research, conducted at the University of California at Davis and funded by the commission, consolidated the results of 47 clinical trials and 13 observational studies published between 2000 and 2023. The study revealed significant health benefits associated with regular consumption of strawberries (between 1 and 4 cups per day), especially for improving cardiometabolic health.
The study concluded that strawberries are packed with beneficial phytonutrients, such as polyphenols and fiber, which help lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels while reducing inflammation. This results in better overall heart health and improved management of cardiovascular risk factors.
Whether fresh, frozen, or freeze-dried, a daily dose of strawberries can have a substantial impact on cardiometabolic health, especially in people at increased risk for heart disease.
Furthermore, the study suggests that strawberries may help slow cognitive decline and protect against dementia, thanks to their rich flavonoid content. By improving lipid metabolism and reducing systemic inflammation, strawberries contribute to lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease.
“Our review found that regular consumption of strawberries not only lowers cholesterol but also helps reduce inflammation, which is a key factor in heart disease. This means that simply adding a cup of strawberries to your daily routine can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular events,” commented Ph.D. Roberta Holt, lead researcher of the study from the University of California Davis.
The study was published in the September 2024 issue of Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.
By Josh Mason ALC Salt Lake City
Shipping perishable goods doesn’t have to mean choosing between high costs and high risk. Refrigerated less-than-truckload (RLTL) shipping offers a versatile middle ground, giving businesses the ability to transport smaller shipments without sacrificing the temperature controls needed for quality and compliance. For industries that rely on cold chain logistics, RLTL represents a smarter way to ship, saving money while ensuring products reach their destinations in perfect condition.
Of course, shipping perishable goods isn’t without its hurdles. Maintaining consistent temperatures, navigating mixed freight loads, and avoiding transit delays are just a few of the challenges businesses face with RLTL. But with the right systems in place—like temperature monitoring, carefully vetted carrier networks, and proactive communication—these obstacles can be overcome. RLTL shipments can move seamlessly, ensuring product integrity and on-time delivery, no matter the complexity of the route.
The true advantage of RLTL lies in combining its efficiency with the expertise of a 3PL. By leveraging relationships with a diverse network of carriers, 3PLs can provide tailored solutions for even the most complex shipments. They can aggregate volumes across customers to negotiate competitive rates and bring a wealth of experience to troubleshoot potential issues. With a 3PL in your corner, RLTL becomes more than just a shipping option—it’s a strategic advantage.
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Josh Mason began his logistics career in 2019 and has focused on LTL freight and solutions. He joined the Allen Lund Company in the summer of 2024 when they opened their ALC Salt Lake City office in Ogden, UT.
josh.mason@allenlund.com
Canadian apple production is predicted to increase 5% in the 2024-25 marketing year, driven by a larger Quebec crop and average Ontario crop, according to a new USDA report.
The apple crop in British Columbia is expected to be average with apple trees having weathered a January 2024 cold event better than pears and grapes, the report said.
While the British Columbia crop will be average by volume, there are sizing and quality issues.
“Additionally, one of the packers and owners of controlled atmosphere in the province, the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative announced an immediate closure in July,” the report said, adding that the closure left many growers without a packer for the upcoming harvest and with a loss of access to controlled atmosphere storage.
“Some growers may look to secure storage access in Washington state, a smaller Washington crop may help support access to these storage facilities,” the report said. “As a result of limited controlled atmosphere storage options at present, it is likely that there will be a large volume of apples selling through the end of 2024 as growers lack the capacity to put them in longer-term storage. This would in turn create a greater need for imports to satisfy [British Columbia] retailer and consumer demand from January 2025 onwards. A higher volume on the market through end of 2024 will also continue to negatively impact pricing.”
The report said Canadian pear production for 2024-25 is forecast to be down 9% compared with the previous season because of cold impacts to the crop in British Columbia. A larger Ontario crop will only partially offset losses in British Columbia, the report said.
Canadian imports of apples and pears are forecast to be down slightly in marketing year 2024-25, driven by shifting consumer preferences and a reduction in U.S. production, according to the report.
The USDA said fresh apple imports are forecast to drop a little over 2% because of the increase in Canadian apple production and a decline in the U.S. apple crop.
“Canada is forecast to maintain recent year’s export pace with a larger crop supporting a forecast of 8% growth in exports,” the USDA said. A smaller U.S. apple crop will also provide additional export opportunity for Canadian apples, the report said.
Production of table grapes is forecast to decline 16% due to adverse weather events impacting Ontario and British Columbia. The USDA predicts Canada will increase its imports of grapes by 2% in 2024-25.