Fresh Produce Container Cargo Protection South Africa
RAFT Kit · Container Desiccants · SGS Certified Lashing · Complete Protection for SA Agricultural Exports
The Fresh Produce Export Challenge
South Africa is one of the world’s major fresh produce exporters, shipping citrus, table grapes, stone fruit, apples and pears, subtropical fruit, and horticulture to markets across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North America, and the United Kingdom. Every consignment that leaves a South African port faces a journey of two to five weeks in a reefer container — and must arrive in marketable condition to return value to the exporter.
Three factors cause the majority of fresh produce quality failures during ocean freight: temperature non-compliance, moisture damage, and physical cargo movement. DunLash addresses all three with a complete cargo protection suite designed specifically for South African fresh produce exporters.
The Three Risks — And the DunLash Response
Risk 1 — Temperature Non-Compliance
Reefer containers maintain a set temperature, but without proper air management, the temperature distribution across the cargo mass is uneven. Warmer zones near the door end or in blocked pallet positions can result in premature ripening, quality loss, and — for cold-treatment protocol cargo — compliance failure at destination port.
The RAFT Kit (Reefer Air Flow Technology), distributed by DunLash, improves cold air circulation inside the reefer container, reducing the temperature differential between the warmest and coldest cargo positions. For citrus under steri-cold protocol, this reduces the risk of a temperature exceedance that would invalidate the cold treatment certificate.
Risk 2 — Moisture Damage
Fresh produce carries significant inherent moisture. Wooden pallets — which are standard for agricultural cargo — also contain moisture that off-gasses inside the sealed container. As the container heats and cools during the voyage, this moisture condenses on packaging surfaces, producing container rain that causes mould, label damage, and carton collapse.
DunLash Ultra container desiccants absorb up to 250% of their weight in moisture at 30°C and 80% relative humidity, maintaining a dry container atmosphere and preventing condensation throughout the voyage. For standard GP containers and mixed reefer/ambient cargo, DunLash Ultra is the recommended desiccant. For reefer containers operating at very low temperatures, DunLash can advise on the appropriate dosage and product for the specific temperature and voyage profile.
Risk 3 — Physical Cargo Movement
Pallets that shift during sea transport disrupt the carefully arranged airflow channels between pallets, creating temperature dead zones in the cargo mass. Load movement also causes physical damage to produce, cartons, and pallet structures — particularly for fragile fruit like table grapes, berries, and soft citrus.
DunLash woven polyester lashing and composite polyester strapping are used to secure produce pallets inside containers, preventing movement during the dynamic forces of sea transport. SGS certified system strengths from 529 daN (composite strapping) to 13,850 daN (50mm lashing) cover the full range of pallet weights and containerised produce configurations.
In addition to our fresh produce container cargo protection solutions, we offer a full range of lashing systems and components to meet all your shipping needs:
