Partnership to introduce containerized shipping for bananas and pineapples

Fresh Del Monte Produce partnered with the global logistics company CMA CGM Group to introduce containerized shipping service for fresh banana and pineapple exports from the Philippines to Japan and South Korea.

The collaboration, which marks a departure from traditional breakbulk shipping methods, operates on two key shipping routes provided by CNC, the intra-Asia specialist of the CMA CGM Group, according to a news release.

The routes are:

• JP8 Service: A newly enhanced route offering direct connections from Davao to Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe, and Moji, ensuring efficient delivery to Japan
• BMX Service: A flagship route providing a weekly connection from Davao to Busan, South Korea

For decades, breakbulk vessels have been the standard in transporting bananas and pineapples to Japan and Korea. This method, where fruit is exposed to fluctuating temperatures and handled multiple times, has long posed challenges for maintaining fruit quality, according to the release.

A fully containerized approach, with each container acting as a mobile cold room, keeps fruit in temperature-controlled conditions while increasing efficiency and lessening carbon emissions, according to the release.

“Customer satisfaction starts long before the fruit reaches the shelf—it begins with how we move it,” Raul Saca, Fresh Del Monte senior vice president, Global Logistics, said in the release. “By transitioning to dedicated container vessels, we’re not only improving cold chain reliability and minimizing damage but also creating a more agile, scalable logistics model that better serves our retail partners across Asia.”

CMA CGM’s controlled atmosphere containers slow ripening and preserve fruits’ nutritional value while providing real-time product information to customers, according to the company.

“This partnership with Fresh Del Monte reflects our shared commitment to innovation, sustainability and customer satisfaction,” Bo Wegener, CEO of CMA CGM Asia Pacific, said. “In addition to benefits from containerization, CMA CGM’s expertise in fruits and fresh produce logistics offers improved solutions that add value to both producers and consumers.”