"Reefers get priority on the ship"

Since June, a. hartrodt has expanded its regular LCL reefer consolidation services to Asia with a monthly service from Melbourne (Australia) to Hong Kong (China). "Demand is particularly high for the transport of craft beer from Australian breweries," reports Daniela Gracia, Regional Sales Manager Greater China at a. hartrodt in Hong Kong. In the special administrative region, customs clearance is easier than in mainland China. "Our LCL reefer consolidation service is suitable for all goods that require a constant temperature in the reefer," she explains. Of course, a.hartrodt keeps offering its regular LCL service from France to Singapore and Hong Kong that is very appreciated by clients.

LCL reefer consolidation service for European shippers

a. hartrodt's LCL reefer service is mainly used by European shippers, for example for wine or chocolate shipments to Asia. The freight forwarding company offers fixed departures from Antwerp (Belgium) and Le Havre (France) – monthly to Hong Kong, two times per month to Singapore. "The customer should inform us two weeks in advance of the ship's departure," advises Mikael Poncet, Managing Director at a. hartrodt France in Lyon. This service is also interesting for customers from neighboring countries.

Transhipment in the fast lane

In reefers, goods are on the fast track for transhipment in Singapore or Hong Kong. "Especially in Singapore, containers can stay in port for up to two weeks," reports Daniela Gracia. As electricity costs then add up for reefers, they are loaded faster than normal steel boxes. "Reefers get priority on the ship," Mikael Poncet says. Even for customers who actually want to ship FCL reefers, LCL reefer consolidations can be interesting: "In the current tense situation for sea freight, we can organize LCL reefers more easily than FCL reefers," says the manager.

"We are flexible and always find a good solution for the customer," assures Mikael Poncet. Wine from Germany or other European locations can be shipped just as well via Le Havre instead of Hamburg: "We can consolidate anywhere." a. hartrodt accelerates urgent shipments.