Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. a global leader in fresh produce, has announced a new partnership with the CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, to introduce containerised shipping service for fresh banana and pineapple exports from the Philippines to Japan and South Korea. The collaboration marks a significant departure from traditional breakbulk shipping methods, ushering in a new era of quality, reliability, and cold chain precision for banana and pineapple imports in Northeast Asia.
The containerised service operates on two key shipping routes, provided by CNC, the Intra-Asia specialist of the CMA CGM Group:
- JP8 Service – A newly enhanced route offering fast, direct connections from Davao to Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe, and Moji, ensuring efficient delivery to Japan.
- BMX Service – A flagship route providing a premium, stable weekly connection from Davao to Busan, South Korea.
For decades, breakbulk vessels have been the standard in transporting bananas and pineapples to Japan and Korea. But this legacy method—where fruit is exposed to fluctuating temperatures and handled multiple times—has long posed challenges for maintaining fruit quality. By moving to fully containerized shipments, Fresh Del Monte and CMA CGM are delivering a strategic leap in logistics excellence.
“Customer satisfaction starts long before the fruit reaches the shelf—it begins with how we move it,” said Raul Saca, SVP, Global Logistics at Fresh Del Monte. “By transitioning to dedicated container vessels, we’re not only improving cold chain reliability and minimizing damage but also creating a more agile, scalable logistics model that better serves our retail partners across Asia.”
Unlike breakbulk methods—where the fruits may face hours of exposure to extreme heat or cold and frequent handling—the new containerized approach keeps fruit in consistent, temperature-controlled conditions from farm to customer. It also mitigates carbon footprint due to its inherent efficiency. Each container acts as a mobile cold room, preserving quality and extending shelf life.
The result: more capacity, less waste, and consistently better bananas and pineapples for retailers and consumers alike. CMA CGM’s CLIMACTIVE controlled atmosphere containers and smart container solutions slow down ripening and preserve the nutritional value of fruits while allowing customers to obtain extensive, reliable, and real-time information about their goods.
“This partnership with Fresh Del Monte reflects our shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction,” said Bo Wegener, Chief Executive Officer of CMA CGM Asia Pacific. “In addition to benefits from containerization, CMA CGM’s expertise in fruits and fresh produce logistics offers improved solutions that add value to both producers and consumers.”
As climate pressures and customer expectations rise, Fresh Del Monte and CMA CGM are improving more than just delivery timelines. By cutting fruit waste, reducing handling, and increasing cargo efficiency, this shift marks a smarter, more resilient way to move fresh produce, benefiting both quality and the planet.
About CMA CGM Group
The CMA CGM Group is a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions. True to its corporate purpose, we imagine better ways to serve a world in motion. Present in 177 countries, it employs 160,000 people, of which nearly 6,000 in Marseilles where its head office is located. The world’s 3rd largest shipping company, CMA CGM serves more than 420 ports across 5 continents with a fleet of over 650 vessels.