INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
FEATURE and stored. These solutions significantly speed up throughput compared to traditional structural‐steel steri-tunnels, easing bottlenecks during the time-sensitive post-harvest window when freshness and marketability are most vulnerable.
ENSURING QUALITY IN PERISHABLE GOODS HANDLING
The Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry( JCCI) recently hosted a webinar on perishable goods handling, bringing together experts from across the shipping, freight, legal and insurance sectors.
Hariesh Manaadiar- the founder of Shipping and Freight Resource, a digital media platform and industry hub for the global transport and trade ecosystem- highlighted the burgeoning significance of this sector. The global perishable goods market, valued at USD20.2-billion in 2024, is projected to grow to USD32- billion by 2033. This growth is driven by increasing demand for processed foods, the rising acceptance of natural and plant-based diets, and technological advancements that enhance supply chain monitoring. Manaadiar emphasised that perishable goods, by definition, encompass fresh produce, dairy, meat, seafood, pharmaceuticals( like vaccines), flowers, plants, frozen foods and even certain temperature-sensitive chemicals. The core challenge lies in their time and temperature sensitivity, making their journey a constant race against the clock to ensure they arrive in a usable and saleable condition.
The transportation of these sensitive cargoes predominantly relies on reefer( refrigerated) containers. Global reefer container volumes saw a significant 6 % growth in 2024 compared to 2023, reaching approximately 182 million TEUs( Twenty-foot Equivalent Units). The global reefer container fleet itself now exceeds 3.5 million TEU capacity. Manaadiar stressed that this isn ' t merely about moving boxes; it ' s about safeguarding high-value, high-sensitive cargo that feeds, heals and sustains global populations. Major trade corridors for these goods include South America to Europe, Africa to Europe( especially for flowers and fruit), and Asia, which leads in seafood and vegetable exports.
SA ' S ROLE IN THE PERISHABLE TRADE
South Africa holds a crucial position in the global perishable goods landscape. As a major agricultural exporter, perishable goods constitute a significant portion of the country ' s exports, contributing approximately 2.5 % directly to the national GDP. When considering its extensive value chain, including transportation, shipping, cold storage, packaging and retail, this impact expands to roughly 10 % of GDP. Annually, agricultural exports exceed R200-billion, with fresh fruits alone accounting for over 35 % of exports,
generating almost R65-billion.
The Citrus Growers Association reports that around 60 % of South African citrus is exported overseas, alongside substantial volumes of table grapes, apples, pears, avocados and cut flowers. This underscores that perishable goods handling— including robust post-harvest practices such as pre-cooling, sorting, and protective packaging— is integral to export competitiveness and food security. The EU remains the largest market for South African perishables( around 38 %), followed by the Middle East, UK, Asia, Russia and North America. Citrus, by far the largest commodity, shipped 2.8 million tons in 2023, with modest growth projected for 2024. South Africa is also a key regional cold chain hub for Southern Africa— further reinforcing the need for coordinated practices that begin at post-harvest and extend through to end delivery.
The safe movement of perishable goods involves several critical steps: pre-cooling at the point of origin, temperature-controlled storage( insulated or refrigerated transport), monitoring and data logging of temperature and humidity, and seamless integration across multimodal transport methods( road, rail, sea). From harvest through post-harvest treatment, packaging and shipping, to final destination, careful handling is paramount. Some products require immediate cooling, while others are transported to cold stores or packed directly into containers. Packaging itself is crucial, demanding insulation, ventilation and compliance with export destination regulations.
The dedicated focus on perishable goods handling is justified by their extreme vulnerability. The US Food Administration authority estimates that globally, approximately 40 % of food produced is lost before reaching retail— much of it due to poor postharvest handling, inadequate storage, or unsuitable containers. Perishables are uniquely unforgiving: even brief delays or temperature deviations can render shipments unsellable.
FROM STERI-TUNNELS TO AUTOMATED SHUTTLE SYSTEMS
Historically, refrigerated tunnels relied on manual forklift operations to place and remove pallets— a slow process that could chafe tight shipping schedules. Today, mobile shuttle systems deliver pallets in under a few minutes, enabling rapid loading and unloading while maintaining cold‐chain integrity. This evolution supports a faster, more responsive post-harvest infrastructure, where temperature fluctuations and delays must be avoided at all costs. This shift is observable globally: companies like Mecalux offer automated pallet shuttles integrated with transfer cars to handle high-frequency pallet flows and optimise air handling in cold warehouses for energy reduction— crucial for reducing energy use and maintaining stable post-harvest storage conditions. Key benefits of shuttle-based solutions:
• Speed and throughput: Shuttles rapidly retrieve pallets within deep racking
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