Anticipating a 15% increase in export volumes this year due to bountiful harvests, Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring another successful citrus fruit season in South Africa.

To accommodate the volume surge, all container terminals across KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) will feature dedicated lanes for refrigerated containers at the gates, says Michelle van Buren Schele, TPT's General Manager of Commercial and Planning.

"We will also augment the number of truck appointment slots in response to demand and capacity throughout the season across KZN and the Eastern Cape," she adds. Customers are encouraged to affix orange stickers on stereo-protocol refrigerated containers to facilitate bi-hourly monitoring, reflecting the company's commitment. Over 200 additional cargo coordinators and port workers are being recruited and trained for the next seven months. To bolster landside operations, some terminals are receiving new equipment, including hauliers, trailers, reach stackers, and empty container handlers. Each terminal has been expanded to expedite the turnaround of empty containers, allowing stacking up to six containers high. All electrical plugs are undergoing testing and maintenance to ensure operational efficiency.

Moreover, relocating import containers via rail to back-of-port facilities will continue to ensure smooth landside handling. In Durban, three terminals have been equipped to prepare for the season. The Durban Container Terminals Pier 1 has confirmed 1440 plug points with backup power. The Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 has 2424 plug points, while the Durban Multipurpose Terminal has 277. In Gqeberha, the Ngqura Container Terminal has confirmed 1652 plug points, and the Port Elizabeth Container Terminal has 932. According to van Buren Schele, TPT also liaises with depots and cargo owners. "In the past, our communication efforts were primarily directed at shipping lines, citrus growers, and cold stores. This time, we aim to fully engage the broader supply chain to ensure improved planning and alignment," she explains.

TPT plans to enhance its communication about opening stacks to help depots and cold stores achieve maximum flexibility. "The industry must utilise the entire 24-hour operational window at terminals to ensure a successful season," van Buren Schele emphasises. The global political landscape and potential effects of the Red Sea crisis influence shipping rotations, which teams strategically plan for and discuss with shipping lines. Citrus fruits constitute over 50% of all fruits produced in South Africa, placing the country among the top three global suppliers of citrus fruits. The Netherlands, China, the United Kingdom, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates are the largest consumers of the country's exports.