August 31, 2017: The global containerised division of the Maersk Group, Maersk Line enabled the import of the first ever consignment of fresh fruits from Durban to New Delhi. The consignment was for Dev Bhumi Cold Chain Pvt Ltd based in the National Capital Region (NCR) of India. The consignment of fresh fruits which left Durban on the August 2 reached Sonepat in NCR on the 22nd of August.

At present, 30-35 percent of all fruits being imported into India are for the NCR market. Maersk Line’s import services are aimed at simplifying current supply chain, thus saving costs for consignees. Fruit importers from North India currently use Nhava Sheva terminal and trucking the cargo into NCR face many challenges. This includes shortage of space in the warehouses of Mumbai and availability of refrigerated trucks during import peak season. Maersk Line aims at providing a solution to these challenges.

Steve Felder, MD, Maersk Line India Pvt Ltd, said, “ This is a very proud moment for all of us to play such a crucial role in the import of this first ever consignment of fresh produce into NCR. Our role is to simplify and enable trade through our increased service offerings and constant innovation for our customers. This is in line with our belief of enabling the India growth story by providing customers with a reliable, cost-effective and viable logistical solution.”

Simplifying the current supply chain will not only help consignees save logistics cost but also ensure quality and freshness of the fruit. Through Maersk Line offering, the transportation time between the point of origin and the port reduce considerably, facilitating a one stop solution closer to the origin of cargo.