CMA CGM has commissioned a feasibility study into a potential low-emissions shipping corridor alongside Zespri, the world’s largest marketer of kiwifruit.
New Zealand’s associate transport minister Matt Doocey recently hosted an event supporting the launch of the study, which would set up a shipping corridor between Tauranga (NZ) and Zeebrugge in Belgium via the Panama Canal.
ANL/CMA CGM is one of the key shipping partners of Zespri, which markets kiwifruit in 50 countries globally, with growers in Australia, Europe, and Asia.
Zespri’s executive officer for sustainability, Rachel Depree, said shipping plays a critical part in New Zealand’s export-driven economy, carrying 99 percent of the country’s trade by volume and around 80 percent by value.
“Low-emissions shipping is a critical part of carbon reduction for exporters and also underpins our collective ability to achieve the government’s goal of doubling export value over the next 10 years,” Ms Depree said.
“Collectively we are already facing rising costs as carbon is priced into the economy and our markets and customers are starting to demand targets and plans to lower emissions over time.”
ANL & CMA CGM oceania managing director Shane Walden outlined the efforts of CMA CGM in decarbonising transport and logistics.
“In shipping, CMA CGM is focused on reducing energy consumption as well as using sustainable low-carbon energies where possible in order to accelerate the energy transition of the sector, including that of key customers such as Zespri,” Mr Walden said.
“New Zealand is an important country for the CMA CGM Group. We embarked upon this project with Zespri and EY as it is imperative that we jointly address climate challenges in the sector to support New Zealand’s maritime trade.”
Zespri said a low emissions shipping corridor is defined as a route between two or more ports where zero-emission shipping solutions are demonstrated and reported.
Ms Depree says shipping emissions are one of the key challenges to decarbonising the kiwifruit industry and meeting Zespri’s climate commitments.
“While kiwifruit is a low-carbon product, shipping emissions make up a larger portion of the product’s overall carbon footprint at 43 percent – and that’s why action is a priority,” she said.
“Like many exporters, Zespri can’t directly reduce shipping emissions ourselves so we’re working with our shipping and distribution partners to improve efficiency and find opportunities to pilot low-emissions fuels solutions as we work towards our ambition of being carbon positive by 2035.
“The problem is significant and the answer complex but we do know success here will require coordinated action across government and supply chains.”
