Fresh Produce coalition worried about supply of fruits and vegetables
The Global Coalition of Fresh Produce has released a report analyzing the current global trading environment for fresh fruits and vegetables. The report alerts about a number of challenges that are currently threatening the long-term economic viability of the fresh produce sector worldwide, and thereby economic stability, food security, and health Current challenges include substantial […]
Future-proofing Last Mile Delivery for the European economy
Pandemic-driven e-commerce sales have surged across Europe, and this momentum has sustained sales despite ongoing economic challenges. New services with new models entered the market and expanded quickly, changing the expectations that even longtime online shoppers have about what is now possible. Consumers in Western Europe who spent 561 euros online per capita in 2019, […]
European ports finally making a comeback after COVID declines
After almost three years, freight levels at ports across the EU are slowly returning to their pre-pandemic state. Port Strategy reports that total weight of goods handled has recovered by 4% to 3.5 billion tonnes in 2021. During 2020, EU ports saw a decline of 7% in cargo compared to the previous year. While volumes still haven’t […]
Despite soaring profits, Maersk sees economic risks coming this year
Danish shipping group AP Møller-Maersk anticipates “a slowdown in the second half, a normalization”, according to its chief executive Søren Skou and in a report in The Financial Times. This comes despite the highest profits of $19.3 billion (+55%) made in its 114-year history, in the first quarter. “The visibility is quite low. Mainly we see risks […]
South Africa protests disrupt citrus exports
South African farmers have been hit by days of unrest and looting as trucks carrying produce are prevented from delivering to markets. The country’s citrus exports through the port of Durban have been halted after violence erupted in the KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng regions. Crowds have this week clashed with police and ransacked shopping malls, […]