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<\/p>\nOur message to help all of our growers this year is to plan ahead and order earlier this year to account for likely industry-wide transport delays.<\/p>\n
Earlier this spring, the mega container ship \u2018Ever Given\u2019 made headlines, blocking one of the busiest trade routes in the world, and causing a huge tail back of other ships trying to pass through the Suez Canal. It was the straw that broke the camel\u2019s back in an already strained global transport network due to the Coronavirus crisis and the impact of Brexit. According to Mark Davies, head of fruit at Agrovista, our UK partner, the network is still grappling with the knock-on effect of all these complications.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are doing all we can to mitigate any transport issues, but placing orders even 6 months ahead of time will help to plan for sourcing. Growers are used to working ahead, but our advice is to work even more in advance and get product ordered sooner rather than later,\u201d says Mark.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlong with Botanicoir, we plan far in advance and we want to reassure growers that this is a temporary issue and we are working with experienced professionals to keep them fully briefed on any delays.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Paul Smith, sea import director at Cargo Overseas Ltd, says that even though it was back in March when the vessel Ever Given was stuck in the Suez Canal for 6 days the knock-on effect has impacted worldwide shipping significantly.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince around October 2020, and compounded by the Suez Canal blockage, there are continuing issues with vessel space, container supply and port congestion which is potentially adding weeks onto the lead time and the indications are that this could continue through at least August 2021 as shipping lines try to get back to some form of scheduling normality.\u00a0There are severe port congestion and container supply issues in all areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether it be UK growers or indeed growers in any part of the world, as\u00a0long as farmers book in advance, pre-plan\u00a0even more\u00a0and look forward, that should stand them in good stead, and we will ensure that we continue to liaise directly with both Botanicoir and their\u00a0growers to\u00a0offer a complete \u2018door to door\u2019 service, starting from the production line in Sri Lanka directly to the farm gate. We\u00a0understand that the growers plan their planting around these deliveries and have a seasonal deadline, therefore it\u2019s imperative that they are kept updated on any potential delays,\u201d adds Paul.<\/p>\n