Rhenus Group is extending its perishable cargo logistics to better support Greater China and Asia, in response to the region’s growing demand for fresh products.

The global logistics specialist is to set up a team of experts, as part of Rhenus Fresh, to manage the transportation of fresh cargo between Greater China, Europe and LATAM, in particular Chile.

Rhenus Chile’s major trade with Asia for fresh perishables highlights the increasing market demand, particularly for fruits shipped to China and meat to Hong Kong via air freight. Notably, Chile holds a pioneering status in global salmon exports to China.

Rhenus states that this diverse range of perishable exports showcases its versatility and strategic approach to catering to various international markets.

Greater China is a major import destination for fresh products. According to Seabury’s data, in 2022, the import volume of fresh goods via air freight in Greater China stood at 528,629 tonnes, far exceeding the export volume of 13,483 tonnes. Key countries of import include Thailand, the US, Spain, France, Italy, Australia, the Netherlands, and Norway.

Rhenus Greater China will provide specialised air and ocean support through time-critical and temperature-controlled services for fresh and frozen produce transportation.

Key trade lanes will include China to Europe, LATAM as well as China to the rest of Asia, and vice versa.

Cliff Xu, chief executive of Rhenus Air & Ocean, Greater China, said: “As a leading logistics provider, we recognise the immense potential and opportunities within this sector of fresh and perishable goods.

“With our extensive global network and the expertise of our specialised team for fresh goods in North-West Europe, we will be able to seamlessly handle the transportation of perishable cargo on a global scale.”

The team from Rhenus North-West Europe will support the new service. Situated close to all the major logistics hubs for air and ocean freight, Rhenus North-West Europe’s reach extends across Norway and Denmark, over Ireland and the UK to Belgium and the Netherlands.

Rhenus Fresh started in North-West Europe, which is a major hub for fresh exports to over 150 destinations. From fresh flowers, bulbs, fruits and vegetables to seafood, meat and fish, Rhenus Fresh has developed comprehensive temperature-controlled solutions to transport all fresh and frozen goods globally.

Expanding its reach, Rhenus Fresh has recently established a dedicated team in Spain, marking its presence also in South Europe and in the Mediterranean trade.

With an extensive network, Rhenus Fresh has a strong trade lane focus from Europe to Greater China, North and South America and Africa, as well as from Greater China to Europe, Latin America (LATAM) and Asia.

The expansion of its fresh cargo services comes shortly after Rhenus’ recent acquisition of BLU Logistics, a leading LATAM freight forwarder present in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, as well as in Greater China and with more than 180,000 TEUs of ocean freight volume.

Frank Roderkerk, chief executive of Rhenus Air & Ocean, North-West Europe, said: “The strategic acquisitions will allow us to strengthen our global network and service portfolio in the LATAM region, where we see increasing demand for logistics services, such as the perishables industry.

“As we bring our collective expertise to support essential markets, we enhance our global supply chain resilience to better support customers.”