Companies cope with container shortages

Logistics companies have set off alarms due to the shortage of containers, due to the large volume of this type of warehouses stranded in China, which is why they are opting for refrigerated containers for all types of merchandise, without everything being food.

“They have had to use this type of (refrigerated) containers, but they do not connect them to the ship, that is, they only use space and put anything in,” said Jorge Millán, director of the Mexico City office of the SBE consulting.

The shortage of containers has been a major obstacle for the maritime transport of merchandise around the world, a problem that has as its origin the closures due to the pandemic that caused many of the containers that left China to stay for a long time in the countries to which they were sent, delaying their return to the Asian giant.

To this is added that during the first quarter of the year, there was an increase in cargo movement in the world of 12 percent, highlighted Jaime Vélez, executive director of TL Pacífico, a logistics company specialized in container movement.

Although in Mexico these containers are usually used, but disconnected, that is, without making use of refrigeration (known as NOR (Non Operating Reefer)), to transport non-perishable goods, their use has increased due to the shortage of those that They are not cold, Velez said.

To Mexico, he added, textiles, sinks and toilets have been imported from China in refrigerated containers, but turned off.

And they have returned with export of avocado, lemon and berries, already with the container connected, from the port of Manzanillo to China.

For the shipments made by Mexico, Vélez said that the refrigerated containers, but lit, are well used because the country is a strong exporter of food and its conservation is required during the transfer.

On the route from China to the United States, this phenomenon of increased use of NOR containers has also been detected, mainly after the Chinese New Year, said Millán.

Source: Reforma