Reefer Shipping News

A new exhibition area on the subject of "Reefer Shipping - Transport of Perishable Goods" is attracting visitors to the International Maritime Museum Hamburg (IMMH). Starting October 19, 2021, this new part of the exhibition on deck 6 will present everything on the subject of reefer shipping, using the Hamburg Süd as an example. From the beginning of reefer shipping in 1877 to the present day, the entire spectrum of development is presented to visitors to the IMMH using ships…

Despite moderating perishable seaborne trade growth, continued modal shift will sustain expansion in the containerised reefer trade and so support freight rate development, according to Drewry’s latest Reefer Shipping Annual Review and Forecast 2018/19 report, by global shipping consultancy Drewry.Global seaborne reefer trade continues to expand, posting a gain of over 5% in 2017 to 124 million tonnes, a big improvement on trend growth over the past 10 years of 3.6% a year. Underpinning this progress was strong growth in banana, meat and fish trades.Drewry estimates that containerised reefer traffic expanded by 8% in 2017, outpacing the growth in overall seaborne reefer trade.

Container shipping lines are increasing their share of the seaborne reefer market and are forecast to accelerate their assault over the coming years, according to the latest edition of the Reefer Shipping Market Review and Forecast 2017/18 published by global shipping consultancy Drewry. In 2016, the estimated perishable reefer cargo split was 79% in reefer containerships and 21% in specialised reefers. By 2021 this modal split is forecast to have changed to nearer 85% and 15% in reefer containerships and specialised reefers respectively. One interesting development in 2017 saw specialised reefer operator Seatrade team-up with CMA CGM to provide a 13-vessel reefer container service offering a weekly sailing between Europe and Australasia.

Despite many adversities for the maritime sector over the last year, seaborne perishable reefer trade increased in 2015 – and is forecast to grow further still in 2016. By 2020, seaborne reefer cargo will reach a staggering 120 million tonnes – increasing by an average of 2.5% per annum, according to the latest edition of the Reefer Shipping Market Review and Forecast 2016/17, published by global shipping consultancy Drewry. While future seaborne cargo growth levels are lower than those of the last decade (3.1%), such increases will have a direct effect on both container lines with reefer capacity and specialised reefer operators. With over 400 containerships with reefer capacity yet to be delivered…

Despite a variety of adverse economic and climatic conditions, perishable reefer cargo growth appears unstoppable, according to Drewry’s latest Reefer Shipping Market Annual Review & Forecast. Worldwide perishable reefer trade increased by 1.8% in 2014 – reaching almost 190 million tonnes. Although this was barely half of the growth seen in 2013 it nevertheless represented a continuing growth pattern. With the exception of the citrus trades, all perishable reefer cargoes saw trade growth in 2014. Having also reviewed key bi-lateral trades in the report for the first time, some interesting figures are revealed – not least of which being a significant decrease in the citrus trade over the last three years between the US and Japan.

Though specialized reefer fleet is shrinking and shows no signs of reversing in the future, the reefer containership fleet has increased by 15 percent year-on-year and is set to grow 20 percent by 2018, according to maritime research and consulting services provider Drewry’s latest Reefer Shipping Market Annual Review & Forecast. Consequently, with a capacity restricted specialized fleet, there is no alternative but for cargo to be shipped by reefer containership, a trend Drewry says is accelerating with continued cargo growth.

Despite growing competition from container lines, specialised reefer operators can still thrive, according to Drewry’s latest Reefer Shipping Market Annual Review & Forecast, referred to here in an extract from DMR's latest 'Container Insight Weekly'. Specialised reefer operators peaked some years ago in terms of cargo volumes and are now having to contend with falling volumes and market shares as container lines move further into their territory. However, this does not necessarily mean they cannot survive and looking at the limited number of public companies reporting financial returns, profitability is indeed achievable. To protect their future viability, specialised reefer companies must now reinvent themselves to protect their undoubted expertise in this field.

Drewry Maritime Research advises that it has just published it's latest Reefer Shipping report, which has new and improved content on the containerised segment of the market, providing a balanced analysis of the whole market, both specialised and containerised.

Reefer capacity on the containership fleet is expected to increase by 22% over the next five years, at the expense of a declining specialized reefer fleet, according to Drewry's latest Reefer Shipping Market Annual Review & Forecast. Reefer box capacity is expected to grow from 1.6 million 40ft slots in 2013 to 1.9 million slots in 2018. However, this fleet growth is not expected to adversely impact vessel utilization levels thanks to strong cargo growth. Reefer container volumes are forecast to rise by 20.5 million tonnes over this period…

Drewry’s latest Reefer Shipping Market Annual Review and Forecast reports that worldwide perishable reefer trade increased by 52.1 million metric tons between 2002 and 2012, which represents by a combined annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6%. Seaborne perishable reefer cargo has increased by a CAGR of 3.3% (25.6 million metric tons) from 66.8 million metric tons in 2002 to 92.4 million metric tons in 2012. The highest percentage growth continues to be seen in the exotic fruit category (pineapples, kiwifruit and avocadoes). Despite its relatively small volume of 4.5 million metric tons in 2012, this sector has grown by a CAGR of 9.1% since 2002. In terms of tonnage, the highest growth has been in the meat category (comprising poultry, pork, beef/veal, offal and sheep meat).

Reefer market dynamics continue to change. Drewry Maritime Research have just published their latest Reefer Shipping Market Annual Review and Forecast 2011/12, analysing the industries make-up including; leading operators’ profiles and fleets, perishable commodities, specialised reefer and freezer fleet capacity, containerised reefer vessels, ship economics and forecasts for the future. As the burgeoning containerised reefer market continues unabated, the specialist reefer fleet is feeling the strain. With twelve-month charter rates forecasted to continue sliding, scrapping levels gaining pace and for the first time an empty newbuild orderbook , the industry is changing quickly.

Despite reports stating that the specialist reefer industry continues to lose market share to the reefer container operators, cargo volumes are increasing overall and as a result the specialist reefer carriers are not suffering a reduction in cargo volume. Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd., leading maritime consultants, has released its latest Reefer report “Annual Reefer Shipping Market Review and Forecast 2007/08”. The report outlines how world reefer trade has grown from 84.6 million tonnes in 1995 to 132.7 million tonnes in 2005, a compound annual growth (CAGR) of 4.6 per cent. Based on current economic forecasts, reefer trade should show strong growth with world trade in perishables set to increase to 199.5 million tonnes in 2015.

J. Lauritzen A/S and NYK Reefers Limited (a wholly subsidiary of NYK Line) announced that NYK Reefers Limited has acquired the 50% shares of NYKLauritzenCool AB previously held by their joint venture partner J. Lauritzen A/S, whereby NYK now controls 100% of the company. Torben Janholt, President and CEO of J. Lauritzen A/S said "Lauritzen has enjoyed a strong partnership with NYK Reefers and a very good cooperation with our Swedish colleagues. As a part of Lauritzen’s overall strategy we decided to sell our reefer fleet in 2006 and it is therefore only natural that NYK takes over our 50 % share holding of our joint marketing company.

Commission to merge their reefer activities. owned on a 50/50 basis by NYK Reefers and J. various sizes, in all major reefer trades. year when J. agreement launched in January 2004. companies’ activities match each other as pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. J. Lauritzen and Mr. office. customers as earlier. adjustments as the merger progresses. merged operations up and running at an optimum”, says Jansson. Mr. Jansson affirms. modern treatment facilities such as controlled atmosphere, CA. and to develop new logistics and transport concepts. belief in the future of this business. strength such as NYK LauritzenCool,” Mr. Jansson concludes.