Excerpts from the Journal of Commerce:
Although fruit cargo volumes look fairly supportive despite droughts and bad weather in key exporting countries such as Chile, the tonnage shortages in the reefer sphere are a result of strong demand for transport capacity from fisheries. About 20 specialized reefer vessels were chartered for lengthy Falklands-to-Far East voyages of 70–90 days at peak rates of $1.25 per cubic foot.
Additional demand for specialized reefers also emerged as California citrus exporters sought alternatives to the congested container terminals in Los Angeles-Long Beach, for liftings to the Far East. Eight reefer vessels were chartered to carry citrus from California to Japan and South Korea at time charter rates of up to $1.20, six of which were provided by Stockholm-based Cool Carriers with its dedicated facility in California’s Port of Hueneme.