Cool Cargoes

News and analysis of refrigerated (reefer) cargo transportation, rates, capacity, technology, equipment, lessors, providers

The latest Cool Cargoes News & Analysis

New ZIM service takes advantage of Savannah’s expanding cold storage network

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Sep 22, 2023, 12:25 PM EDT

Savannah attracted the new service due to its growing third-party logistics network and proximity to East Coast and Midwest markets, allowing for quicker and fresher imports.
North American portsContainer shippingContainer linesCool Cargoes

US cold storage supply struggling with costs, aging facilities amid high demand

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Sep 11, 2023, 9:00 AM EDT

Investors aren’t lining up to sink money into aging facilities, given that warehouses built in the last 20 to 40 years require nearly 50% more energy consumption and double the maintenance costs than newbuilds.
Industrial real estateNorth American portsCool Cargoes

CEVA expands India footprint with contract logistics takeover

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Aug 21, 2023, 9:57 AM EDT

The CMA CGM subsidiary’s latest acquisition will significantly increase its presence in South Asia that is growing in importance as supply chain routes shift across the region.
Supply ChainForwardingIndustrial real estateLast mileCool Cargoes

Emerging from pandemic fog, global reefer market reverts to type

Richard Bright, Journal of Commerce analyst | Jun 23, 2023, 9:00 AM EDT

If the reefer mode can tough out the rest of 2023, next year should be better for operators largely because there will be more cargo, and therefore demand will be stronger, writes analyst Richard Bright.
Cool CargoesBreakbulk shippingBreakbulk carriersSupply Chain

Hungry domestic market driving US Southeast cold storage development

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Jun 15, 2023, 9:00 AM EDT

Refrigerated warehousing construction is “exploding” in the US Southeast, as one port executive put it, thanks to a growing population and increased demand for imported produce and other food products.
Cool CargoesContainer shippingNorth American ports

Increased vessel capacity, reliability key to 2023 reefer rebound

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Feb 8, 2023, 12:30 PM EST

Refrigerated container trade was muted in 2022 due to high costs and poor service, but ocean carriers appear keen to serve those markets in 2023 now that dry cargo rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Cool CargoesContainer shippingNorth American ports

New IMO rules force global reefer fleet to confront uncertain future

Richard Bright, JOC analyst | Feb 3, 2023, 8:00 AM EST

The specialized reefer fleet has proven to be remarkably resilient in the face of various challenges, but now it must deal with the latest threat in the form of new IMO environmental regulations.
MaritimeCool Cargoes

Savannah aims for more cold-chain cargo with new reefer racks

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Jan 31, 2023, 1:29 PM EST

The Port of Savannah says plans for additional reefer rack capacity will add to its market share for cold chain imports coming into the US Southeast and Gulf Coast.
North American portsContainer shippingCool Cargoes

Commodity, semiconductor crunch threatens reefer capacity 

Gregory W. Tuthill, chief commercial officer, SeaCube Containers | Apr 6, 2022, 7:00 AM EDT

The strong likelihood of continued growth in the reefer trade creates questions about supply meeting demand given recent world events and the potential upstream production dependencies linked to raw material sourcing.
Cool Cargoes

Lineage buys cold storage near East, Gulf coast ports

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Mar 9, 2022, 5:23 PM EST

Lineage Logistics is acquiring MTC Logistics, a cold storage operator with warehouses at the ports of Baltimore, Wilmington, Delaware, and Mobile.
Cool CargoesIndustrial real estate

New funding, acquisition signal growing digital forwarder competition

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Aug 9, 2021, 9:43 AM EDT

Shypple has acquired a perishables competitor that it says will expand its geographic presence in Latin America and Asia, while giving it a leg up on other digital forwarders.
Logistics technologyCool Cargoes

New devices, increased interoperability drive reefer tracking improvements

Lara L. Sowinski, Cool Cargoes editor | Mar 12, 2021, 9:34 AM EST

Shippers are increasingly able to gain visibility into in-transit freight, even for time- and/or temperature--sensitive cargo being carried in specialized refrigerated containers, courtesy of new technology.
Cool Cargoes

Reefer shippers facing higher rates, equipment constraints beyond 2021

Lara L. Sowinski, Cool Cargoes editor | Mar 5, 2021, 11:03 AM EST

Sustained strong import volumes from Asia and tight capacity have forced perishable food importers and exporters to compete with dry goods shippers for space and equipment.
Cool Cargoes

COVID-19 testing delays Chinese imports of US perishables

Lara L. Sowinski | Feb 23, 2021, 1:44 PM EST

US seafood exporters are among the hardest hit by stricter COVID-19 testing requirements in China that some shippers have decried as non-tariff trade barriers.
Cool Cargoes

Vaccine demand to stress but not soak up capacity, say transport executives

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor, and Cathy Morrow Roberson, Senior Contributor | Dec 18, 2020, 5:35 PM EST

There’s debate about how much of a knock-on effect COVID-19 vaccine distribution could have on other types of cargoes, but US shippers are cautioned to plan for some disruption.
Cool CargoesTruckingAir CargoAir cargo carriers

Reefer market resiliency defies broader COVID-19 impact

Lara L. Sowinski, Cool Cargoes editor | Nov 17, 2020, 11:43 AM EST

The pandemic has increased food insecurity in many countries, while some buyers ordering more inventory to hedge against potential supply chain disruptions and bottlenecks.
Cool Cargoes

Indian cold chain players gear up for COVID-19 vaccine challenges

Bency Mathew, Special India Correspondent | Oct 29, 2020, 12:03 PM EDT

Sensing potential scalability factors, a handful of Indian domestic cold chain solutions providers have already trained their sights on what could be a tough, but lucrative, market for them.
Cool Cargoes

Foodservice, cold storage sectors find new opportunities during pandemic

Lara L. Sowinski | Sep 22, 2020, 9:38 AM EDT

While much of the wholesale and institutional food business remains depressed, foodservice distributors are finding new opportunities to add value to the food supply chain, such as helping restaurant customers open pop-up shops and online marketplaces.
Cool Cargoes

COVID-19 forces shippers, service providers to redesign food supply chains

Lara L. Sowinski | Sep 21, 2020, 12:55 PM EDT

Food logistics providers increasing their offerings in the "new" last-mile — from restaurants and grocery stores to consumers' homes — as demand for online grocery shopping and direct-to-consumer food delivery skyrockets due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cool Cargoes

COVID-19 pain to reefer supply chain lingers after shock

Lara L. Sowinski | Jun 24, 2020, 11:10 AM EDT

The turmoil unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic has barely subsided, evidenced by numerous reports of service failures that continue to come in from stakeholders throughout the food supply chain.
Cool Cargoes

Food shippers maximize opportunities in US, Asia

Lara L. Sowinski | Jun 22, 2020, 3:09 PM EDT

While food service and the retail grocery sectors adapt to new pandemic-linked realities, consumers’ food preferences remain unchanged.
Cool Cargoes

Mitigation key as coronavirus container dislocation timeline lengthens

Gregory Tuthill, chief commercial officer, SeaCube Containers | Feb 27, 2020, 8:02 AM EST

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak will distort container flows and global equipment fleet balance for at least another 90 to 120 days, according to Gregory Tuthill, chief commercial officer at SeaCube Containers.
Container linesCool Cargoes

China looks to jump start post-coronavirus reefer shipments

Lara L. Sowinski | Feb 24, 2020, 1:22 PM EST

The Chinese government says it will take “strong measures” to ensure supply chain fluidity for refrigerated (reefer) food products, but US exporters must wait for factories to reopen and ships to begin leaving China again.
Container linesCool Cargoes

Perishables shippers report improving container service

Lara L. Sowinski | Feb 14, 2020, 6:07 PM EST

US refrigerated (reefer) shippers reported improved service from ocean carriers in 2019, but equipment issues and other uncertainties could impact cold chains this year.
Container linesCool Cargoes

PortMiami wins $44 million federal grant for perishables

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Feb 14, 2020, 1:56 PM EST

PortMiami won a $44 million federal grant which will be used to improve the cold chain cargo facilities to handle temperature-controlled food, and perishables such as flowers.
North American portsCool Cargoes

Reefer surcharges rocket due to Chinese port plug scarcity

Lara L. Sowinski | Feb 14, 2020, 10:50 AM EST

US exporters of refrigerated (reefer) cargo are facing costly delays in China and equipment shortages in the United States due to extended factory closures and limitations on worker movement caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
Container linesCool Cargoes

Maersk unveils end-to-end logistics solution for Indian ag exports

Bency Mathew, Special India Correspondent | Jan 17, 2020, 10:49 AM EST

Maersk, tapping its reefer capabilities, has linked up with an Indian ag group on a pilot program designed to boost the carrier’s integrated strategy.
Cool Cargoes

Startups partner to automate global cold chain

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Dec 11, 2019, 10:17 AM EST

Chicago-based startup Transship is teaming with TradeLens and other tech companies to create an automated shipping and forwarding platform for containerized perishables shipments.
Logistics technologyMaritimeTruckingCool Cargoes

Lineage Logistics expands at US ports, Asia-Pacific markets

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Nov 19, 2019, 2:20 PM EST

The acquisition of Emergent Cold gives US-based Lineage Logistics greater access to Asian markets and facilities at three US ports.
Logistics technologyNorth American portsCool Cargoes

Lineage Logistics adds cold-storage space in Europe

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Sep 18, 2019, 11:21 AM EDT

The acquisition of two Van Soest Coldstores facilities complements Lineage’s existing network of refrigerated sites across Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Logistics technologyCool Cargoes

Indian digital forwarder capitalizes on reefer push

Bency Mathew, Special India Correspondent | Aug 2, 2019, 10:11 AM EDT

An Indian tech startup is luring reefer shippers with a digital platform as refrigerated cargo volumes in the country are on the upswing.
Cool Cargoes

Reefer shippers willing to pay for improved service

Lara L. Sowinski | Jun 24, 2019, 6:00 AM EDT

Continued depressed pricing has caused service levels in the refrigerated cargo market to deteriorate, but BCOs say there are other issues that need addressing as well.
Cool Cargoes

Service cools Mexico’s refrigerated rail potential

Hugh R. Morley, Senior Editor | Jan 30, 2019, 9:20 AM EST

Security and service problems face Mexico's intermodal sector as it seeks to expand its share of the reefer market.
International railCool Cargoes

Congestion clogs port of Manila

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Jan 25, 2019, 5:38 PM EST

Truck shortages, warehouse closures, and too many empty containers have exacerbated terminal and landside congestion.
International portsCool Cargoes

Lack of air cargo surge marks weak trans-Pacific

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jan 15, 2019, 11:53 AM EST

After a subdued end to 2018 and trade and with economic hurdles stacking up, there are relatively low expectations for the trans-Pacific air cargo market in 2019.
Air cargo forwardingCool Cargoes

CMA CGM ships first locally-booked India smart container

India Special Correspondent | Dec 10, 2018, 10:28 AM EST

CMA CGM (India) said the smart container was loaded onto the CMA CGM Tosca at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust on Nov. 30, destined for Marseilles, France.
Logistics technologyMaritimeContainer linesCool Cargoes

US Southern ports target Latin fruit imports

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Nov 30, 2018, 6:06 PM EST

Market share remains in the single digits —both as a percentage of overall reefer imports and exports in the US and overall volumes within the individual ports — but the port authorities of Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia say the US Department of Agriculture clearance will open the door to even more business opportunities.
PortsNorth American portsCool Cargoes

Consumer expectations expedite shipper deliveries

Alan M. Field, Special Correspondent | Nov 9, 2018, 10:33 AM EST

Every year, the expectation regarding “free” is that “free” gets faster and faster, and e-commerce players are a major factor. Thus, two-to-three-day click-to-delivery expectations are now the norm. And that’s upping delivery pressure on shippers.
Supply ChainCool Cargoes

Transload facility boosts Oakland port’s reefer prospects

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Nov 1, 2018, 12:12 PM EDT

The Lineage Cool Port Oakland cold storage facility offers direct access for up to 36 refrigerated rail box cars and also features 90 truck doors.
North American portsCool Cargoes

Philadelphia ILA rejects remote reefer monitoring plan

Hugh R. Morley, Senior Editor | Oct 25, 2018, 5:28 PM EDT

At issue is an effort by port employers to have deskbound longshoremen monitor the temperature of each reefer twice a day to ensure that it is at the correct temperature, instead of longshoremen physically walking up to each box, checking, and documenting the temperature on an iPad.
Longshore laborCool Cargoes