Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has announced the opening of a new 15,000-metre cold storage facility in Durban, South Africa.
The facility, part of MSC’s MEDLOG logistics division, aims to catalyse advancements in the handling of perishable goods in South Africa and is expected to open up the country’s trade landscape.
This inaugural event for the cold storage facility took place on 7 March 2024 and was attended by MSC CEO, Soren Toft, with the presence of government officials, industry partners, clients and MSC personnel.
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“This investment marks an exciting new milestone for exporters and importers of fresh produce across South Africa,” said Soren Toft, CEO of MSC.
“It exemplifies our ongoing efforts to provide value-added services to our customers, while contributing to the development of the local economy. We want to help South Africa achieve its vision to become sustainable, economically prosperous and self-reliant.”
The cold storage facility has a capacity of 8,000 to 10,000 pallets. Import commodities that can now be expanded include goods such as chicken sourced from Brazil, the US and Poland, while exports primarily comprise citrus destined for markets in Europe, the Middle East and the Far East/Asia.
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“The construction is of the highest quality,” explained Jose Carlos Garcia, MEDLOG Warehousing and Distribution Manager.
“The building features convertible rooms to accommodate both chilled and frozen cargo, as well as mobile racks to optimize space. The warehouse management system is fully integrated with the PPECB (Perishable Produce Export Control Board) database to ensure regulatory compliance and full traceability.”
Earlier this year, MSC announced the updates to its NWC to South Africa Service from March 2024 to enhance services between Europe and South Africa.
