Maersk plans seasonal service extension for South African grape exports
Maersk says it will extend its WAF7 service for South Africa’s grape season, while Tanzanian pulses and Kenya’s approaching mango season shape regional container demand.
In its 13 October market update, the carrier expects South African grape volumes to build from early November as the citrus season ends. The planned seasonal WAF7 extension is intended to improve Northern Cape connectivity and access to the Gemini network.
Maersk forecasts strong fourth-quarter demand for refrigerated containers and asks exporters to share volume forecasts and equipment needs ahead of harvest. In East Africa, it reports increasing demand for 20-foot containers as Tanzanian pulses shipments gather pace; Kenyan avocado exports are winding down ahead of November’s mango season.
These are the carrier’s operational expectations, not confirmed pallet-volume figures or evidence of an industry-wide container shortage. The update is relevant to produce packers, pallet suppliers and cold-chain operators planning seasonal outbound loads. Image: vineyard grapes, supplied on Maersk’s original update; illustrative of the commodity, not a named exporter.
Source attribution
- Source organisation
- Maersk
- Original date
- 13 Oct 2026
- Published by us
- 16 Oct 2026
Pallet News publishes a short original summary only. Copyright in the original update remains with the publishing organisation.
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