Maersk ship

Maersk Line has revealed that it has enabled the import of the first ever consignment of fresh fruits into India's National Capital Region (NCR).

The consignment of fresh fruits, for Dev Bhumi Cold Chain Pvt Ltd, left Durban on the 2 August, reaching Sonepat in NCR on the 22 August.

At present, 30-35 per cent 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 who are currently importing into Nhava Sheva and trucking produce into NCR face a shortage of space in the warehouses of Mumbai and availability of refrigerated trucks for their movement during import peak. Maersk Line is aiming to provide a solution to these challenges.

“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,' said Steve Felder, managing director for Maersk Line India. '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.”

According to Maersk Line, simplifying the current supply chain will not only help consignees save logistics costs but will ensure quality and freshness of the fruit through less manual handling.

Through Maersk Line's offering, the transportation time between the point of origin and the port reduce considerably, facilitating a one stop solution closer to the place of origin of cargo.

'This milestone achievement will enable faster trade, present new market opportunities and add value to the existing supply chain,' the group noted.