Rhenus Project Logistics Launches First Groupage Reefer Service To Dubai.

The project logistics specialist, Rhenus Project Logistics, is organising the first groupage freight traffic for temperature-controlled goods to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by sea from the beginning of August 2018 onwards. The regular service involving one or two containers every month will connect customers in Switzerland, Germany, Austria and the Benelux countries with their target markets near Dubai.

The groupage freight traffic is primarily designed to be used for temperaturesensitive foods like chocolate, bakery products or cheese. A constant temperature is essential for these items. Depending on the customer’s instructions, the temperature of the 20- and 40-foot containers can be set between +25 and -25°C. The goods are stowed in the containers and cooled to the appropriate degree, depending on the type of items.

The reefers will initially be stuffed centrally at a refrigerated logistics warehouse in Breda in the Netherlands, not far from the port of Rotterdam. The 19-day voyage at sea to the Arabian Gulf then starts from Rotterdam. Rhenus Logistics Gulf will then receive the reefers at the port of Jebel Ali, not far from Dubai, and, after deconsolidating them at the refrigerated premises of the partner companies within Rhenus’ international network, will supply the goods to their final customers.

Ernst Métry, Managing Director of Rhenus Project Logistics in Switzerland, says, “The special feature about this new groupage freight service is that it’s possible to avoid the more expensive air freight route by having temperature-controlled transport operations on board ships. We’ve responded to the strong level of demand from our customers in Switzerland, Austria and Germany and believe that we can expand the service by getting new customers in the United Arab Emirates involved in the long term.”
“With this new service launch, Rhenus can offer its local & global customers a niche groupage freight product in this trade lane, which will fulfill an existing demand for a missing product segment as an affordable alternative to airfreight,” adds Hakan Ongel, Managing Director of Rhenus Logistics Gulf in UAE.

The Rhenus Group maintains its own country organisation in the UAE and opened its first business site in Dubai in 2016. Rhenus Logistics Gulf is specialised in handling air and ocean freight and providing customs clearance for imports and exports. The company’s product range also includes project business and road transportation to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as well as warehousing services with air conditioned, dry, frozen, chilled, racking, open area or ground space warehousing with its own inventory control system.

About Rhenus The Rhenus Group is a logistics services provider with global business operations and annual turnover of EUR 4.8 billion. Rhenus has business sites at 610 locations worldwide and employs 29,000 people. The Rhenus business areas – Contract Logistics, Freight Logistics, Port Logistics and Public Transport – manage complex supply chains and provide a wealth of innovative value-added services.