Container-line Hapag-Lloyd has added 11,100 refrigerated containers (reefers) to its fleet, adding 12.2% to capacity. Similarly Ocean Network Express has added 14,000 units in the first major investment following the formation of the merged container-line in April.

The global growth in demand for transporting perishable agricultural products is the major driver of demand and has led several liners – most recently including Evergreen as outlined in Panjiva research of July 3 – to add new capacity.

The expansion in demand has been broad-based, with U.S. inbound shipments using reefers having climbed by 18.0% in the three months to July 31 on a year earlier to reach a record high in the month of July, Panjiva data shows. That followed a 2.9% expansion in the past three years on an annualized basis.

Chart shows U.S. seaborne imports using refrigerated containers. Lower panel shows change vs. a year earlier.   Source: Panjiva

Hapag-Lloyd has some catching up to do with its competitors. The leading container-lines providing refrigerated services on U.S.-inbound routes in the three months to July 31 were Maersk (18.4%), ONE (12.8%) and CMA-CGM (10.5%). Hapag-Lloyd was fifth largest with 7.3% but is in a difficult “second tier” that includes specialists such as number four operator Transfruit.

Chart segments U.S. seaborne imports using refrigerated containers by steamship SCAC and port of lading country for the three months to July 31, denominated in TEUs.   Source: Panjiva