Shipping lines MSC and CMA have extended their container services linking Northland with Australia, Asia and Europe via the Panama Canal.

MSC’s seasonal service to Asia, through Brisbane and Singapore, is now in its fifth year. It is being used extensively by ZESPRI for Northland kiwifruit exports. It is also being used by exporters of other Northland products that benefit from the direct link and refrigerated container space.

CMA’s seasonal Panama service to Europe was introduced to Northport during last year’s Kiwifruit export window; three calls left Northport on a trial basis. The uptake and service was good so frequency has been increased this year, shipping hundreds of containers of high-value exports from the region direct to the East Coast of the US and Europe. 

“These are valuable direct links to major export markets which Northland businesses can take advantage of”, said Northport’s commercial manager David Finchett. “Although they’re seasonal services catering primarily for Kiwifruit exports they are also available to, and have been embraced by, a range of other sectors.”