Adding to cold storage capacity in Cape Town
Investment in cold chain logistics
SOUTH AFRICA: The addition of a new cold storage facility to the logistics network will help strengthen the country’s capacity and help support cold-chain exports which are currently dominated by fresh fruit, particularly citrus and table grapes,
The inauguration of Belcon Cold Store represents Maersk's continued focus on strengthening South Africa's critical cold chain logistics network and marks a significant milestone in the company's over USD 100 million (ZAR 1.72 billion) investment in South Africa's cold chain infrastructure.
“Maersk has been invested and present in South Africa for over three decades, and our ambition has never been stronger," said Lubabalo Mtya, Managing Director of Maersk Southern Africa & Islands. "We are committed to building and delivering logistics solutions that create tangible value for our customers and their businesses, while contributing to South Africa's economic prosperity and the livelihoods of its people.”
The South African grape industry has faced significant challenges, with delays and broken cold chains in logistics costing up to 1.5 billion Rand annually. The country's cold-chain logistics market has experienced inconsistent performance, leading to substantial losses for exporters of temperature-sensitive produce.
“There was a clear need to strengthen South Africa's cold chain infrastructure to minimise these losses and support the competitiveness of local exporters,” added Mtya. “The Belcon Cold Store directly addresses this critical gap in the market.”
With the inauguration of Belcon, Maersk now operates three cold storage facilities in South Africa — Belcon, Cato, and PreCool. Together, these facilities form a comprehensive network designed to support the demanding cold chain logistics requirements of exporters, featuring:
◼︎ 32,000 pallet positions
◼︎ Strategic proximity to the ports of Cape Town and Durban
◼︎ Rail sidings and highway connections for seamless multimodal transport
◼︎ On-site container depot for efficient cargo handling
◼︎ Renewable energy systems to decarbonise supply chains
The three facilities have already ramped up operations during the second half of 2025 and have delivered positive impacts to customers during the critical citrus season, ensuring product quality and reducing waste in the supply chain.
Customers shipping perishables through Maersk's South African network now have access to end-to-end services, including consolidation, temperature-controlled storage, customs brokerage, terminal handling, and both ocean and landside transportation at origin and destination.
“We are listening to our customers and implementing solutions that go beyond business as usual," explained Mtya. "This integrated approach means we're not only delivering on ocean shipping but providing our customers with complete logistics solutions that address their most pressing challenges.”
PHOTO: Isaac Sileku, Western Cape Minister of Mobility, (left) and Lubabalo Mtya, Managing Director of Maersk Southern Africa & Islands, cut the ceremonial ribbon marking the inauguration of Maersk’s Belcon Cold Store facility in Cape Town.
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