While more than 70 per cent of the world's cocoa is shipped by container, a French underwriter finds that this generates increasing number of claims for cargo loss because of poor ventilation, reports London's Containerisation International.
"Cocoa needs lots of air, but this is not really possible in a container. There are often problems with poor bag quality, humidity and condensation," Mr Allard told delegates to the ICCO World Cocoa Conference in Abidjan.
"Cocoa is a fragile commodity," said Bordeaux-based Filhet Allard CEO Henri Allard, complaining that his firm handled many claims related to containerised cocoa damage.
"Bags may become wet and need to be dried to save the cocoa inside. There can be serious losses," he told the cocoa traders and producers at the conference.
Not that there appeared to be much of a solution, said independent consultant Robin Dand: "Mega bulk saves money, but it can also make cargo traceability more complex, which is an issue when more European companies and consumers are demanding to know the origin."
Mr Dand said adequate cocoa preparation was essential at farm level in order to help prevent supply chain losses.
Warehousing poses risks too, according to Stefan Poppe, commercial director of Belgium's Molenbergnatie Group and vice president of the European Warehouse Keepers Federation.
"Poor quality bags may split in the warehouse when being moved, causing spillage. Infestation is another major challenge, as mitigation efforts prior to export don't always work," he said.
A newer protective method is to pack the cocoa in double-edged cartons to avoid condensation, said Mr Allard, the insurer. |
