Shipping container shortage caused price increase for fruits imported from southern hemisphere

The Covid-19 pandemic caused significant perturbation in the shipping industry regarding container availability, leaving many companies unable to ship products, while others were stuck with a backlog of empty containers.
As declared by the representatives of several trading companies operating in the main wholesale markets of London, this situation led to raised shipment costs. In contrast, many shipments got delayed, creating a shortage of fruits that usually are supplied from tropical areas or the southern hemisphere. As a result, compared to the end of 2021, the prices for bananas went up by about 10%, and an even more significant increase was seen for table grapes. Currently, it is a significant deficit of high-quality grapes, the central part of Extra and Cass 1 being sold in retail chains only. At the same time, there is a minimal choice in wholesale markets and almost no options for any bargains.