Will ocean freight substitute air cargo in Ethiopia?

Mekonnen Solomon W. during phyto inspection

From Djibouti , Ethiopia , to Valencia , Spain – a four - week journeyEthiopia is landlocked , so where do the flower leave the continent ? " Via Djibouti , " Mekonnen explain . " On April 15 , 2025 , 20 pallet of peak — totaling 188,000 bow ( or 5,382 kg ) of summer and rebel flowers — were consolidate by four farms in a refrigerate motortruck in Beshofetu town . The blossom were then loaded onto a watercraft in Djibouti and set sail , by Maersk , for Jeddah , Saudi Arabia . Once in Jeddah , the shipment was transferred onto a ship go by the Mediterranean Shipping Company and then sailed to Valencia , Spain . " It is estimated that the journeying would take four weeks , bet on weather condition , port handling speed , and transit coordination upon arrival , but hope are high that they will come the evening before Mother ’s Day .

Better management of FCMAn important discovery is that ocean freight can be a viable method for managing False Codling Moth ( FCM ) , a quarantine cuss that has lately affected Ethiopia ’s flori- and agriculture industry , as well as that of other East African nations . " The pesterer can damage fruits , vegetables , and roses , leading to significant economical losses in these crops , " say Mekonnen . " It is now a major business organization for European blossom imports , especially roses , conduce to increased inspection rate — lead in serious trade restriction for Ethiopia . "

Sea freight is now being regard a promising method to help mitigate FCM , he explain . But how ? " The False Codling Moth is not well - adapted to low temperature for lengthened periods , which is believe to wipe out all stagecoach of its animation hertz . pic to unchanging temperature below 2 ° C with specific humidness levels for extended durations is only achievable with ocean transport . The extended transportation sentence — typically 3 to 4 week — creates an idealistic condition to eliminate the pestis ’s eggs . "

By dividing line , the short transit time of air cargo does not allow for sufficient inhuman photograph to keep in line this blighter . " This is why some farms have begun to believe that ocean loading offers a substantial advantage in cope the False Codling Moth , " Mekonnen append .

reduce C footprintAnother growing vexation among European flower retailers — the major emptor of Ethiopian flush — is the carbon paper footprint of heyday transportation system . " zephyr payload is energy - intensive and has a gravid environmental shock . The European Union is especially committed to reduce its carbon footprint and achieving clime disinterest . With binding targets to swerve net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030 and to accomplish net - zero by 2050 , line freight poses a serious risk to growers relying on planes . "

So how much low is ocean freight ’s carbon step liken to atmosphere freight ? " Many logistics work reveal that air freight can have a carbon step 10 to 50 time gamey than sea load for the same cargo over the same length . Airplanes burn large amount of refined jet plane fuel , which lead importantly to CO₂ expelling . Ships , on the other handwriting , carry monolithic book of cargo , and though they expend clayey , less tasteful fuel , their emissions per ton are much down . Their obtuse speed make them far more fuel - efficient — ship are like the tortoise of the exaltation world . "

downhearted fuel pricesAnd when talking about fuel prices , these cost are another factor favoring sea freight rate . " There ’s a major difference between the fuel used by ship and that used by planes . ship typically employ a thick , sludgy , and relatively cheap fuel — what ’s left over after refining crude oil . It ’s not the cleanest , but it ’s low-priced and available . In contrast , cargo plane utilize super C fuel , a extremely refined and much more expensive form of kerosene . "

This difference in fuel cost importantly impacts the full monetary value of transport . " As fuel prices rise , so do air cargo surcharge . Sea transportation , being more fuel - efficient and low-spirited in cost , gives exporters a clear economical advantage . "

Stable temperatureAlthough air freight is degraded , it comes with risk of infection such as temperature fluctuation during transportation system that can negatively affect flush quality , he continues . " ocean transport , by demarcation , offers stable conditions that keep peak torpid and bear on their quality . "

Large capacity — ideal for bulk shipmentsSolomon also emphasizes the monolithic capacity advantage of sea freight . " One New load ship can carry up to 24,346 twenty - animal foot tantamount whole ( TEUs ) . Each 20 - foot container holds about 1,172 three-dimensional feet of volume . By comparison , even a large merchantman like the Boeing 747 can only carry around 26,000 three-dimensional feet in total . This do ocean exaltation far more practical for bulky or fleshy items . "

Fewer restrictionsOf track , each mode of transport comes with its own readiness of restriction . However , Mekonnen notes that air cargo incline to face more restrictions than sea freight . " Beyond tight security measures and weight demarcation at airports , air cargo often has hard-and-fast regulations on promotional material materials — particularly fillers used with flowers . Sea freight is generally more accommodating regarding cargo types and packaging flexibility . "

All in all , the strict rule surrounding air cargo make sea cargo a more versatile option . " The choice ultimately depends on priorities — but for many Ethiopian exporters , sea freight rate is emerge as the smarter long - terminus strategy . "

veridical - time insight is essential"That said , disregarding of the method acting , navigating today ’s planetary logistics landscape is no simple task , " Mekonnen reason . " We need real - clock time datum to make informed decisions . That ’s where tools like Freight , a contract - edge logistics chopine , issue forth in . It provides substantial - time insights into ocean and air freightage rates , routes , and docket — see to it that exporter stay one step out front of their shipments . "

For more informationMekonnen SolomonEthiopia Ministry of AgricultureEmail:[email protected]www.moa.gov.et