Kotahi and Maersk Extend Long-Term Freight Agreement, Ensuring Stability for New Zealand’s International Trade

Kotahi and Maersk Extend Long-Term Freight Agreement, Ensuring Stability for New Zealand’s International Trade

(IN BRIEF) Kotahi, New Zealand’s largest containerised freight manager, and A.P. Moller – Maersk have solidified their partnership with a second long-term freight agreement lasting until December 2034. This agreement, valued at NZ$160 billion, provides stability and resilience to New Zealand’s international trade amidst global supply chain disruptions. Over the past decade, the collaboration has facilitated the shipment of 1.8 million TEU or 23 million tonnes of New Zealand cargo to market, primarily comprising dairy, meat, seafood, horticulture, and forestry products. The partnership’s continuation signifies Maersk’s commitment to supporting New Zealand’s international trade and enhancing supply chain resilience through integrated logistics solutions and sustainability initiatives.

(PRESS RELEASE) COPENHAGEN, 21-May-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Kotahi, New Zealand’s largest containerised freight manager and A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk), a global integrated logistics company, have signed a second long term freight agreement to December 2034, providing New Zealand international trade with a stable, resilient and sustainable global supply chain, for primary industry exporters.

“Global supply chain disruptions, from pandemic, geopolitical and climatic events are becoming the norm. An ongoing freight partnership, with Maersk, will provide New Zealand’s international trade with resilience and agility to navigate these issues into the future”.

“The magnitude of this agreement is big, even by global standards, with an estimated NZ$160 billion value of primary export products given greater certainty and capability around delivery to market. The long-term agreement provides our shareholders, and exporters on our platform, with a backbone shipping network for reliable services to key export locations. During the peak of the Covid-19 disruption, Maersk was the standout carrier in choosing to bring additional vessel capacity and containers to New Zealand, which grew the capacity pie for the whole export market. This is an exciting partnership with Maersk It enabled New Zealand exporters to stay competitive on the world stage and we look forward to the next 10 years”.

David Ross
Chief Executive of Kotahi

A decade ago, Kotahi and Maersk embarked on a ground-breaking collaboration with the purpose of providing greater reliability to New Zealand ocean logistics, focusing on New Zealand exporters’ needs.

Ten years later the results are in, together the partnership has shipped 1.8 million TEU or 23 million tonnes of New Zealand cargo to market, the majority being primary industry exports including dairy, meat, seafood, horticulture and forestry, through some challenging conditions.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with Kotahi, reaffirming our commitment to supporting New Zealand’s international trade and ensuring the resilience of its supply chains. Over the past decade, our collaboration has been instrumental in providing reliable and efficient ocean logistics solutions for New Zealand exporters, and we anticipate sustaining this momentum and further advancing our shared objectives in the years ahead”.

Vincent Clerc
CEO of A.P. Moller-Maersk

Anna Palairet, Chief Operating Officer at Fonterra, New Zealand’s largest exporter of dairy products, welcomes the deal saying it is great news for New Zealand:

“Despite significant pressure on global supply chains over the past few years, Fonterra and many other New Zealand companies, have been able to keep products moving. We’re looking forward to seeing what this next decade of partnership between Kotahi and Maersk brings”.

Anna Palairet
Chief Operating Officer at Fonterra

Together with Maersk’s carrier network, Kotahi managed Fonterra’s record export shipments without the need to use more expensive, non-containerised freight options. The collaborative partnership was also able to help many export customers get their product into markets when they had no other options.

Having recently inaugurated a state-of-the-art cold-store facility in Ruakura, Maersk is dedicated to furthering support by investing in local infrastructure and fostering collaboration with customers in the country. Through its continued partnership with Kotahi, Maersk demonstrates its long -term commitment, and the collaboration is expected to bring New Zealand’s supply chain to the next level by integrated logistics solutions, technology-enabled logistics and sustainability.

About Maersk

A.P. Moller – Maersk is an integrated logistics company working to connect and simplify its customers’ supply chains. As a global leader in logistics services, the company operates in more than 130 countries and employs around 100,000 people. Maersk is aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2040 across the entire business with new technologies, new vessels, and green fuels.

About Kotahi

Kotahi is New Zealand’s largest containerised freight manager, founded in 2011 by Fonterra and Silver Fern Farms. Today, with 65 customers and around 30 per cent of New Zealand’s containerised export volume under its management, Kotahi plays a significant role in moving New Zealand’s primary export products around the world.

Media Contacts:

Maersk:
Summer Shi
Senior Press Officer, Asia Pacific, Maersk
+86 1065351206
summer.s@maersk.com

Kotahi:
Belinda Leslie
General Manager, People and Communications
0275656287
Belinda.Leslie@kotahi.co.nz

SOURCE: A.P. Moller – Maersk