Growing geopolitical tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz are once again highlighting the enormous logistical fragility of the international fruit and vegetable supply chain. While much of the public debate focuses on oil, fuel and energy-related impacts, the fresh produce sector faces a quieter but particularly serious threat: time.
In the fresh produce trade, every hour matters. Cargo delays at ports, transit disruptions or changes to shipping routes directly affect the shelf life of fresh products. Fruits and vegetables held longer at ports lose firmness, commercial quality and storage potential, increasing claims, food waste and economic losses for growers and exporters.
The situation around Hormuz is not only putting pressure on global maritime transport; it is also affecting vessel availability, increasing logistics costs and complicating commercial planning during campaigns where speed is critical. For a sector highly dependent on logistics efficiency, uncertainty becomes a structural risk factor.
In addition, the fresh produce sector plays a strategic role in global food security. Ensuring the supply of fresh, healthy and affordable products depends on stable and predictable transport chains. When international conflicts block or slow these flows, the impact extends beyond exporting companies to consumers and destination markets.
When logistics stop being predictable
Pressure on logistics chains is already generating visible effects across several fresh produce export corridors.
In South Africa, exporters and industry operators report that some refrigerated containers in Cape Town are taking between 10 and 14 days to leave the port, compared to the usual approximately 4 days under normal conditions. These delays, aggravated by operational congestion and adverse weather conditions, have caused fruit accumulation in cold storage facilities and disruptions to commercial programs.
But the problem is not limited to Southern Africa. Peruvian exporters have also faced congestion at European ports such as Rotterdam, particularly affecting sensitive products like blueberries and table grapes, where quality depends on very tight logistics windows.
At the same time, international logistics operators warn that certain maritime diversions and route changes are adding up to 10 extra days to some Reefer shipments, forcing the industry to rethink how to protect fruit quality during increasingly unpredictable transit times.
The most vulnerable fruits: Table grapes and berries
Within this context of logistics uncertainty, table grapes and berries are among the most exposed and vulnerable fruits. These are also two of the highest-value categories in international markets, but at the same time among the most sensitive to any disruption in transit times.
Unlike other products, these fruits have very limited tolerance to prolonged delays at ports or during maritime transport. Water loss, dehydration, reduced firmness and the development of decay can accelerate rapidly when the logistics chain loses stability.
In many cases, the difference between arriving in optimal condition and suffering major economic losses depends directly on the postharvest strategy implemented at origin. Today, maintaining the cold chain remains a basic requirement, but on its own it no longer guarantees the preservation of commercial quality.
The new logistics reality is forcing exporters to strengthen their postharvest programs with solutions capable of protecting freshness, firmness and shelf life even in scenarios where transit times are no longer predictable.
Situation for citrus and apples
Although citrus and apples have a longer shelf life, they are not exempt from the problem.
Prolonged delays can reduce freshness, increase the risk of physiological disorders and limit commercial shelf life at destination. In addition, every extra day in storage or transit increases the financial pressure on exporters, importers and retailers.
Postharvest becomes a key factor
The global fresh produce industry is entering a stage where logistics uncertainty is no longer an exception but a structural component of international trade.
Geopolitical events, port congestion, shipping route changes and climate-related disruptions will continue affecting export predictability. This forces the industry to rethink how postharvest programs are designed today.
At AgroFresh, this evolution is clearly visible across the main fresh fruit exporting countries. According to the company, postharvest has evolved from being solely a technical tool into a key element for risk management and value protection throughout the fresh produce supply chain.
With decades of experience in fresh fruit preservation, AgroFresh develops original postharvest solutions based on scientific evidence and used globally, with the objective of helping exporters maintain fruit quality, firmness and commercial condition during extended storage and transit periods.
The company also highlights the development of technologies aimed both at decay control and firmness preservation, as well as specific solutions for particularly sensitive categories such as table grapes, berries, citrus and apples. The common objective is clear: ensuring fruit arrives at market in better condition, even when the logistics chain is under increasing pressure.
