The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has announced a slight increase in the refrigerated containers that it handled during the last year compared with 2019 figures.
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]In particular, MSC marked 1.9 million reefers in 2020, topping its previous record of 1.8 million units in the previous year, according to the company’s data, while its vessel fleet capable of handling reefers reached 560 vessels.
The Swiss-based line said that 2020 was “another successful year for MSC’s reefer services as we battled through the Covid-19 pandemic to continue to deliver essential foods and medicines.”
MSC noted that the global demand for fresh fruit has grown by as much as 40% over the last decade, which therefore boosts the demand for refrigerated boxes.
This was further intensified in the last year by greater demand for immunity boosting foods rich in vitamin C, such as fresh fruit, as part of a growing trend in personal health and nutrition, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
This is the reason, MSC has expanded its reefer fleet for temperature-sensitive cargo by adding 15,000 Star Cool units in 2020. Additionally, the Geneva-headquartered shipping company took delivery of its Gülsün Class container ships, which are capable of carrying over 2,000 reefer containers than earlier ship designs.
“The increased capacity has helped service the high volumes of trade activity between Europe and Asia, boosting the trade of food, drinks, pharmaceuticals and other chilled and frozen products,” said the company.
Giuseppe Prudente, MSC global chief logistics officer, noted, “The growing demand has also opened up new market possibilities, which we have been able to support thanks to our continual investment in the best technologies for refrigerated transport solutions.”
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