Freeport is OK for banana trade
Freeport is OK for banana trade
"Freeport is intact and appears to have weathered Hurricane Rita relatively well," Mike Mitchell, director of corporate communications for Chiquita Brands International Inc. in Cincinnati, said Sept. 26, The port of Freeport [in Texas] has told us that the ship channel is currently open for daylight vessel movements. They are awaiting survey results from the U.S. Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers, but reports indicate that the ship channel is expected to be open sometime Tuesday [the Sept. 27] or Wednesday for 24-hour traffic.
Juan Alarcon, CEO of Turbana Corp. in Coral Gables, FL, similarly said, We are OK with operations n Freeport, TX. He is very thankful nothing happened to our people. We are resuming operations this afternoon, he said Sept. 26.
Mr. Mitchell added, Gulfport appears to have had no impact due to Hurricane Rita. In follow-up to Hurricane Katrina in Gulfport, MS, Port officials and Chiquita employees are on the steady track to get her back in shape. We expect a Chiquita vessel to arrive and discharge for the first time since Hurricane Katrina on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
Mr. Alarcon said, The banana market is OK. Last week there were several logistical problems: One was Rita of course, and at the same time there was a work slowdown in Costa Rican ports, so vessels sailed late and light, which helped the market.
Marta Maitles, director of communications for Dole Fresh Fruit Co. in Westlake Village, CA, said Sept. 26, We discharged a ship in Gulfport last week and plan to continue bringing in our scheduled ships to Gulfport. Things are not back to normal, but we are functioning as best as we can.
Of U.S. banana prices, Ms. Maitles said, Quotes were up a bit last week, and the national banana market was disrupted somewhat, since we are dealing with some shortages.
How long will it take to return to normal? A while. It is difficult to say how long, Ms. Maitles said.
The Dole spokesperson added that inland transportation has been tough. Truck availability is limited. As for transportation surcharges, she said, We have implemented a shipping fuel surcharge.
Ms. Maitles concluded, Thankfully our Freeport facility came through Hurricane Rita all right and it is up and running again.
Juan Alarcon, CEO of Turbana Corp. in Coral Gables, FL, similarly said, We are OK with operations n Freeport, TX. He is very thankful nothing happened to our people. We are resuming operations this afternoon, he said Sept. 26.
Mr. Mitchell added, Gulfport appears to have had no impact due to Hurricane Rita. In follow-up to Hurricane Katrina in Gulfport, MS, Port officials and Chiquita employees are on the steady track to get her back in shape. We expect a Chiquita vessel to arrive and discharge for the first time since Hurricane Katrina on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
Mr. Alarcon said, The banana market is OK. Last week there were several logistical problems: One was Rita of course, and at the same time there was a work slowdown in Costa Rican ports, so vessels sailed late and light, which helped the market.
Marta Maitles, director of communications for Dole Fresh Fruit Co. in Westlake Village, CA, said Sept. 26, We discharged a ship in Gulfport last week and plan to continue bringing in our scheduled ships to Gulfport. Things are not back to normal, but we are functioning as best as we can.
Of U.S. banana prices, Ms. Maitles said, Quotes were up a bit last week, and the national banana market was disrupted somewhat, since we are dealing with some shortages.
How long will it take to return to normal? A while. It is difficult to say how long, Ms. Maitles said.
The Dole spokesperson added that inland transportation has been tough. Truck availability is limited. As for transportation surcharges, she said, We have implemented a shipping fuel surcharge.
Ms. Maitles concluded, Thankfully our Freeport facility came through Hurricane Rita all right and it is up and running again.
