The South African transport workers' strike is now in its second week, and prospects of a quick resolution between trade unions and the transport authority are slim.
Fruit industry leaders say they are now facing serious losses, and damage to the country's image as a reliable international fresh produce supplier.
The latest mediation process between the trade unions and the transport authority, Transnet, broke down on Sunday and container terminals across the country will remain closed for the time being.
Deciduous fruit industry body Hortgro spokesperson Jacques du Preez said that if the strike is not resolved within the next day or two growers and exporters will face serious losses.
'Until now we have been able to cope without serious problems, but it is now getting serious. Over the weekend exporters had to monitor the temperatures of their own containers in the ports because there was no staff on duty to do so,' Mr du Preez told Fruitnet.com.
'In a year such as this, with lower crops, customers are struggling to get enough fruit and the strike is contributing to the problem. It will now have a negative effect on our image as a reliable supplier. We are also going to loose important sales weeks which will have an overall effect on our season.'
Safmarine has confirmed that the movement of containers and vessel operations has been severely affected. The company said in a statement that its options are limited when it comes to making contingency plans, as there are limited transshipment options serving this region.
'The delays caused by the strike are serious and are impacting the entire supply chain,' the company said.
The Citrus Growers' Association said shipping to Japan, the US, Russia and to an extent Europe, is flowing normally, although the group said there is concern about shipments to markets using mainly containers, especially the Middle East and Asia.
'Although some containers were packed last week for these markets, the fruit still stands in containers at depots. How long it will take for these consignments to reach their destination once the strike action is resolved will depend on the Transnet service recuperation and vessel turnaround time,' the association said.
Efforts to use ports outside South Africa are continuing and the Sharon Fruit industry successfully loaded 10 containers in Walvis Bay, Namibia, and is considering further shipments via Maputu in Mozambique.
'But these are extremely expensive options,' a spokesman said, adding that all packing operations had been suspended until there was more information about the strike being resolved.
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