The lack of international passenger aircraft has had a dramatic impact on WA exporters.
On April 16, Tigers International launched its new sea freight ‘Less than Container Loads’ (LCL) service to support West Australian (WA) exporters, across agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture to reach their overseas markets.
The lack of international passenger aircraft has had a dramatic impact on WA exporters of these and other products.
While the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) has played a pivotal part in the support of these industries to continue to access overseas markets, not to mention the support of workers in these industries to hold onto their jobs, the cost of airfreight was still prohibitive to many exporters.
However, the ongoing doubt about the quarter-to-quarter extension of this scheme places stress on the industry and its supply chain.
Assisting exporters with small or large consignments wishing to access the Asian markets.
Tigers International, a major player in the movement of these products via airfreight, has now initiated a LCL service via sea, initially to Singapore, to allow exporters to maintain supply to their overseas customers.
The service, which commenced on April 16 with the one shipping line weekly service, will assist exporters with small consignments as well as those larger exporters wishing to access the Asian markets.
The initial container was set at +3 degrees and will be transporting potatoes, pumpkins, apples, onions and citrus products.
Tigers International Solutions Jason Radford said the company was also offering containers at -1 degree for meat and seafood, and assessing the viability of frozen -18 degree containers.
Using this sea freight option will allow exporters to ship their cargoes at around 60 cents per kilogram, rather than around $2.60 per kilogram via airfreight (even after IFAM assistance is provided).
The service is being marketed through avenues within Austrade and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) in WA.
If the service is supported and proves to be a success, the lanes could be expanded to include Hong Kong and Bangkok.
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