CITRUS RAIL TRANSPORT REVIEW 2013Prospects of Rail Transport for Citrus

Exports

Statement: the northern citrus production regions of KwaZulu Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Zimbabwe produce 60% of Southern Africa’s citrus exports, 95% of which is transported to Durban by road transportation – leading to severe congestion and delays. Rail transportation from Limpopo province is paramount in addressing this...

1 of 4 Strategic Logistics

and Infrastructure Projects as

Proposed by:

Background From the onset of the 2005 citrus season, rail transportation of citrus production for export has declined dramatically. Where some 80% of citrus was transported to port by rail, in 2013 less than 5% of citrus was transported to Durban (by the transportation of reefer containers to Durban port stacks). Annually some 800,000 pallets of citrus are produced in the northern regions, 95% of which is transported by some 35,000 road vehicle trips into the Durban port. In peak season it has been ascertained that on average some 350 road vehicles transport citrus into Durban each day. At present there is no thorough management or coordination of vehicle arrivals into Durban and therefore bottlenecks and congestion frequently occur. The main reasons for the declined use of rail are seen to be as follows : An amendment to the regulatory framework that prohibited road

transportation, Decreased efficiency and reliability of the general freight rail network, Continuous and increased pilferage of citrus during rail transportation, The advent of containerization and the stacking of ‘High Cube’ pallets by

producers, in which rail transportation could not accommodate, The differential in road transport and rail transport pricing leading to road

transport gaining an advantage in price versus reliability, The fragmentation of the export Supply Chain, deregulation led to the

dissemination of a centrally coordinated Supply Chain, The development of cold storage facilities in Durban not equipped with rail

sidings, The conventional ‘O’ type rail wagon stocks depleted to the point of no return.

CITRUS RAIL TRANSPORT REVIEW 2013 The Way of the Future

Statement: the future of citrus rail lies firmly in the development of inland hubs in Limpopo for the purpose of consolidating citrus to be packed in reefer containers; which are then transported to the respective port of choice for export...

Durban and Maputo Export Volume by Mode

Containerised Specialized Reefer

Containerised Specialized Reefer

DURBAN MAPUTO

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Containerization of citrus in Durban presents an opportunity for rail

Regional Container Loading Ratio Port vs. Inland

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

CAPE TOWN DURBAN PORT ELIZABETH/

NGQURA

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

Inland Port

Inland containerization in the EC and WC regions has progressed

?Hinged on

rail transport

Limpopo & Zimbabwe Annual Citrus Production

Weekly production of citrus from the Limpopo and Zimbabwe regions is the equivalent of

>1,500 FEU containers worth.......

Would it not then be possible and practical to implement 6 reefer train trips per week

transporting 240 citrus containers from Limpopo.......

(Week 18 – 38 = 4,800 FEU p.annum)

Includes: Limpopo and Zimbabwe regions

Proposed Rail Transport Offering in Limpopo

The development of inland ambient and/or cold storage infrastructure, Letsitele: for the accumulation of citrus from Letsitele and Hoedspruit, Polokwane: for the accumulation of citrus from northern Limpopo and

Zimbabwe, Marble Hall: for the accumulation of citrus from Marble Hall, Groblersdal and

Zebediela. Infrastructure PPECB approved, potential forced air cooling (steri),

DAFF inspection facilities and container bays, The implementation of rail yards aligned with inland depots, complete

with reach stacker or gantry crane and sufficient reefer plug-in capacity,

Polokwane central rail yard transferring containers to and from the Polokwane and Letsitele facilities,

Pretoria (Pretcon) central rail head transferring containers to and from the Marble Hall facility.

The implementation of 3 fully equipped reefer train sets, The number of trains sets to be in accordance with the demand, Train sets to accommodate up to 40 live FEU reefer units.

Introduction of the Cape Corridor as an inclusion of the Natal Corridor.

Proposed Citrus Inland Hubs & Rail Network

Strategic Partnerships to Achieve Synergies

Synergy = The interaction of two or more agents or

forces so that their combined effect is greater than the

sum of their individual effects

Rail and Logistics Partners

Facilitation ProcessSupportMediation

Facilitation ProcessFundingImplementation

HardwareOperationsPlanning

ImplementationOperationsPlanningCoordination

Dole SA implemented a Container Depot at the Letsitele station in 2010. This facilities primary purpose is to accumulate citrus from multiple producers for the purpose of packing containers which are transported to the port of choice by rail. The efficiency and effectiveness of this facility should be expanded for the greater Limpopo and Zimbabwe regions....

Expanding the Dole LCD Concept

Durban port cold stores are over utilized creating severe bottlenecks, congestion and inefficiency leading to losses – citrus reefer container trains are essential for the northern region,

Logistics costs are escalating at an alarming rate, rail transporting of reefer containers can potentially decrease costs,

The future of citrus rail transport is hinged on a strategic and sustainable partnership between Transnet Freight Rail, the Limpopo Provincial Government (LEDET), CGA and rail logistics partners,

There is a dire need to lobby Transnet SOC to issue a subsidy for citrus rail transportation,

Rail utilization on the Natal Corridor (Natcor) line would limit the effectiveness of citrus reefer container trains directed to Durban Pier 1 and 2. Citrus reefer trains should preferably be transferred to the Cape Corridor (Capecor) line to Cape Town CT,

The TFR Belcon facility in Belville, Cape Town would be very complimentary to the citrus reefer container trains,

Cape Town port would offer better lead time to Northern Europe, UK, Mediterranean and Russian markets. Determined to potentially offer a 7 day advantage,

In discussion with Maersk Lines, Safmarine and MSC (as the largest reefer carriers), they have issued full support for the implementation of reefer trains.

Factors to be Considered

The transportation of citrus reefer containers by rail potentially offers

growers the opportunity to - improve logistics costs, improve cold chain

integrity, increase efficiency and reduce transit time to key citrus markets...

Enabling a more sustainable, efficient and effective Citrus Supply Chain through the development and implementation of strategic

projects...

CITRUS RAIL TRANSPORT REVIEW 2013Prospects of Rail Transport for Citrus

Exports

See also – Southern African Citrus Rail Status 2011 Brochure (CGA)