DIARIO DEL PUERTO Ports 71 number of professionals from its port community to its stand in Berlin, the return to business normality is ”a shot in the arm, without a doubt”. Returning to normality at Fruit Logistica is especially important for the Port of Algeciras, as this event is the largest international trade fair of its kind. A VERY DIFFERENT SCENARIO TO 2020 The scenario that Fruit Logistica left behind in 2020 is very different to the current global supply chain context, with shipping rates at unprecedented highs and major congestion problems in ports and logistics hubs. In Martico’s view, this situation has led the company to adopt a ”slightly more conservative approach, to concentrate on what is important and to make many internal improvements which had an excessive opportunity cost with the pre-Covid dynamics”, says Damian Kutnowski, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Martico Reefer Solutions. In the opinion of the Port of Algeciras, the changes experienced have been across the board, with a continuous increase in freight costs, ”although it is true that on the North-South axis, the increase in rates has not come anywhere near the dramatic surges on East-West routes, i.e., the Far East to Northern Europe”. For the Port of Algeciras’ managers, the most positive aspect of this sector, whose essential nature has been amply demonstrated, is that the consumption of fruit and vegetables in Europe has remained stable during the pandemic, and there have even been certain increases in traffic in some countries of origin and products, ”and that ports, in particular, and logistics, in general, have been able to cater for this demand”. For the Port of Algeciras, it is ”extremely important” to hold business meetings with producers from the fruit and vegetable industry in Latin America, Asia and Africa
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