ZIM Reefers Family,

I am happy to open the 4th edition of FreeZe – ZIM’s Reefer Newsletter and share with you interesting articles all about seasonal cargo and the latest market trends.

During 2021, ZIM’s Reefer activity has grown by 11%, demonstrating our strategy to focus on reefers as one of our growth engines.

As we strive to hold the youngest reefer fleet in the industry, we have also invested in new custom-made reefer containers already equipped with our ZIMonitor capabilities, as well as in Controlled Atmosphere units which are designed to ship fresh produce cargo.

Looking ahead, our expectation is that the recovery which has started in Q2 of 2021 will continue into 2022.

Much like the rest of the industry, we faced many challenges, such as reefer containers delayed at ports, blank sailing, lack of space for positioning empty containers due to full services, and rate differences between dry and reefer cargo freight.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 has been a rollercoaster but turned out to be an opportunity for maritime refrigerated transportation with a strong demand for perishables and frozen food.

Drewry expects the seaborne reefer trade to grow at an average annual rate of 4.2% over the next five years and reach 162 million tons by 2025, with an increase in meat trade, as Asian demand is expected to remain strong over the near future, as well as fresh vegetables and exotic fruits.

Furthermore, Drewry forecasts that during 2022, average rates of global reefer freight will continue to increase, while dry rates are expected to decline.

ZIM has stepped up this year, focusing on the reefers market, and resulting in a significant gain of 11%. We aim to continue with this double-digit growth in the coming years.

From a commercial perspective, in 2022, we see high potential in some of our main trades:

Intra-Asia with a focus on Thailand, Vietnam, China & India
Three services from Australia & New Zealand to Asia
South Africa to Asia
Intra-Med including Egypt, Turkey, Italy, Spain, and Israel
LATAM – Caribbean & Mexico to North America, Canada & US to Caribbean
North Europe to the Mediterranean
Trans-Pacific with a focus on US & Canada to Asia

Powered by our customers’ needs, we understand that a professional reefers team with in-depth market knowledge and expertise in commodities is essential, which is why we provide supreme and agile customer support throughout the entire ZIM network.

We plan to continue with this global growth while ensuring our customers receive ZIM’s renowned personal touch.

Wishing you and your families health and peace!

Sincerely,
Michael Shvarzman – Head of Global Reefers & Special Cargo Unit

It’s a Citrus Celebration in South Africa

South Africa’s citrus season is brimming with an abundance of fresh and brightly colored fruits. But what makes the country such a major global citrus exporter? We spoke with Gary Eagar, South Africa Branch Manager, about the recent refrigerated market trends, challenges, and future possibilities.

Make Way for The King of Thai Fruit

Whether you are a durian fan or not, you probably wondered about the mysterious fruit at some point. Nutthawut Wiwatbutsiri, ZIM Thailand Reefer Sales Manager, has got all your durian questions answered as well as a look at Thailand’s much anticipated durian export season.

The Greatest Grapes of All

Egypt’s booming grape season has begun, and we met with Amani Selim, ZIM Egypt Country Manager who let us in on the evolution and developments of the local table grape export market, plus a closer look at the freshest varieties you will want to try on your next grape adventure!

Reefer Maintenance Never Looked This Cool

There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes when it comes to transporting fruits and vegetables across the globe. We spoke to Teheala Shiff, ZIM Maintenance and Repair Department Manager, who took us on a journey to better understand the reefer container and the many crucial factors that come with it.

Keep Cool and Carry on (Your Cargo)

The world of refrigerated shipping continues to evolve, but how do you know what you should be paying close attention to when transporting high-end commodities? Learn more about the top trends in the reefer world from Michal Marcus, ZIMonitor Product Manager.

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