Kenya could be in for a major win as the shift to shipping fresh produce by sea gains momentum. Kenya plans to move 50 percent of horticultural exports from air to sea freight in an ambitious seven-year plan that is aimed at cutting costs and reducing its carbon footprint.
This is part of a five-year Sh3.8 billion (€25.5 mln) program being implemented by TradeMark Africa, dubbed “the Business Environment and Export Enhancement Programme (BEEEP).
According to the Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya, the move will cut freight costs by between 40-50 percent, compared to what exporters are spending on air. Air freight rates range between $4.50 (Sh618.75) and $6 (Sh825.00 ) per kilo, depending on the various operators at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). This means sea freight could cost about $4 (Sh550) per kilo of cargo.
[ Sh100 = €0.67 ]
Source: the-star.co.ke