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SPECIAL REPORT

IN THE COMFORT OF

CONTROLLED

ATMOSPHERE

CONTAINERS

African flower exporters are always looking for reliable and cost
effective freight capacity to move their produce to markets in Europe
and beyond. For long, they relied on air freight but it now looks like
moving flowers by ocean in controlled atmosphere containers is very
promising and they are doing it.

he pandemic had a devastating in Kenya and highly flexible to meet opportunities regarding the further
impact on Africa’s flower exporters, demands. The sea freight industry of fresh development of sea transportation as a
particularly on those from Kenya, produce, however, is less developed and viable alternative for air freight.
Tas they faced severe shortfall could become many times larger. Talks with sector actors have
in air freight capacity. The impact was In June this year, a report published indicated that a crucial factor for the
so severe that small-scale flower farms by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the success of sea freight is the acceptance of
were throwing away a fifth of their daily Netherlands in Nairobi explored the sea freight as an alternative by European
produce meant for export even in the early potential of sea freight for exporting market parties. Therefore, a survey
part of this year. However, the big players flowers from Kenya. The report titled, among key market players was carried
managed to lock-in capacity through Insights by Key Market Players on the out to get a better understanding of
advance bookings on airlines. This was Development of Sea Freight of Flowers their view on the potential bottlenecks
largely because the air freight capacity out from Kenya, was based on extensive and opportunities regarding the further
of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International study conducted by ProVerde, a development of sea transportation as a
Airport was yet recover fully from the market research firm. Funded by The viable alternative for air freight.
interruptions caused by Covid-19 in 2020. Netherlands Enterprise Agency, the From the insights gathered through
The cost of transport is a main concern report was compiled based on a survey conversations with importers, traders
for a large majority of Kenyan exporters among key market players carried out and retailers, it looks like that there is
of horticulture products, such as flowers. to get a better understanding of their a tremendous interest in sea freight.
The air freight industry is well-developed view on the potential bottlenecks and One of the reasons for such heightened

12 LUA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2022