Ocean freight connections offer cheaper solution for getting small loads to Asia – DHL

DHL said that its Cool LCL (Less Container Load) service could maintain sensitive foods, such as confectionery, baked goods, jam and food additives, at a consistent cold chain with temperatures between 12 and 17°C to ensure goods arrive in the best quality from Europe to Asia.

Bernhard Stade, vice president of ocean freight management in Germany for DHL Global Forwarding, told ConfectioneryNews.com: “The big challenge of the food companies was to find a cost efficient solution especially for new customers with smaller orders. Cool LCL provides a cheap solution.”​

Smaller cheaper loads​

He said that the minimum shipment for a given product was just one box of each size. DHL said that previously only full container loads or air freights were available for such shipments.

Stade said: “We have spoken with members of the German Sweet Association and they informed us that they could get much more business in Asia if they can deliver smaller orders without delay and cost-effective. “​

“They also told us that DHL Global Forwarding is the first logistics provider with this kind of temperature-controlled LCL service.”​

He added that there were no maximum limits but larger loads would be better off using a full container load service (FCL) as it would be more cost-effective.

Germany to Singapore but other destinations planned​

The service is currently available for food manufacturers in Europe to transport goods from Hamburg in Germany to Singapore, but DHL has plans to introduce other destination ports in the future in Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, New York and Santos.

Stade said a series of German sweets and food additives companies are already using the current service and the company has received inquiries from other European sweets companies in Switzerland, Austria, Belgium and Denmark.