Cogoport launches reefer shipping service for Indian perishables

August 2, 2019: Digital freight logistics provider Cogoport has expanded its offering by launching refrigerated (reefer) cargo services to and from destinations across the globe. Shippers who need cold storage facilities can now compare rates and book reefer containers through a host of partner shipping lines on the Cogoport e-freight booking platform.

“We are now able to pass on the benefits of Cogoport digital shipping to customers who move refrigerated goods – typically SMEs moving seafood, fruit and vegetables, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Existing customers using our platform confirm they save 10-15 percent on their logistics costs – including as many as 40-man hours per shipment – and we’re delighted to now extend those efficiencies to refrigerated cargo," said Purnendu Shekhar, founder and CEO of Cogoport.

According to Cogoport, refrigerated exports from India grew by 27 percent in 2018, with shrimp the principal seafood export growing by 20 percent, with demand for seafood and Indian organic food driven from the North America, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Vietnam. The export of onions also rose by 15 percent year on year in 2018 over 2017.

Likewise, the import of refrigerated imports are also in greater demand – from markets including Germany, South Korea and Russia, driven by demand from India’s burgeoning middle class drives for perishable products.

“We are meeting significant demand for reefer exports to North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and to those importing refrigerated cargoes – enabling SME shippers all over India to deliver better productivity, service and profitability when moving their perishable cargoes,” he added.

Ankit Begwani, founder and CEO of BegwaniGlobal, an existing customer of Cogoport, said, “We have had a great experience working with Cogoport, moving onions to different corners of the world – saving us time and budget. Like many other SMEs, we are also seeing huge demand for shipping of perishable cargoes, not least for fruit and vegetable exports to Malaysia and Dubai. This requires high operational output, optimisation of shipments and customer satisfaction for delivering goods on time. Every cent matters to every SME business, and Cogoport has demonstrated that it can help deliver that value with better rates, better margins and better visibility."