Poor sea freight options keep rose shippers in the air

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Enormous savings in carbon dioxide emissions can be made by switching from air to sea freight, as well as lower freight costs, but for several perishable segments the sheer difference in speed continues to make shipping by sea uneconomic.

Describing the trade in cut flowers from Ecuador to Europe, Anton Bril, trade services manager for the Dutch Association for Wholesalers in Florticulture said: “A 10-tonne consignment of roses represents one 40ft container. To ship from Ecuador to Europe generates 3,500kg of ...