Ethiopian-Netherlands horticulture partnership : Prospects and challenges for refrigerated container transport of fruits and vegetables from Ethiopia to the Middle East

Ethiopia has a big potential to grow more fruits and vegetables. Ethiopia’s current fruit and vegetable export is very limited. Scope for expanding and diversifying its export markets is large. Demand for fruits and vegetables is growing in nearby international markets, like the Middle East. Although Ethiopia is land locked, it is geographically close to the Middle East. To reach the Middle East, and other international markets, produce has to be transported to Djibouti where it can be shipped. Roads to Djibouti are generally good, but transportation takes long due to long waiting times at the border, sometimes up to ten hours. Fresh produce is sensitive and needs to be refrigerated to remain fresh and of good quality during such long transportation time. To start exporting to the Middle East it is of paramount importance to build a good reputation and to deliver the fruit and vegetables in good condition. Refrigerated container transport offers possibilities to make use of the potential to export more fruit and vegetables which arrive the market in good quality. This report offers an overview of the feasibility to use refrigerated container transport for Ethiopian fruit and vegetables export to the Middle East