New banana container traffic at Marseille port

Last 30th of June the first container of a new traffic of bananas from the French Antilles were disembarked at Mourepiane container terminal at Marseille port, then handled by LV Fruits company.
This first call confirm the intention of the Union des Groupements de Guadeloupe et de Martinique (UGPBAN) of gaining the market of Southern France where this product is still moderately known.
Such traffic will bring to South France 30.000 tons of bananas every year through the port of Marseille, thus doubling the current traffic amounting 25.000 tons in 2006.
The UGPBAN had until today concentrated all its traffics to France and Europe through a port of Northern France. However, following to the opening of a new line operated by CMA-CGM from Southern America and the French Antilles, the association had decided to change its logistical strategy and supply the South of France market through Marseille.
Such a new traffic confirms the competitiveness of the port of Marseille, first in France for fruit and vegetable traffic, as distribution platform to South Europe. With an average of 600.000 tons of fruit and vegetable traffic per year - one third of the total French - the port of Marseille-Fos is among the main ports within the Mediterranean for fresh produce handling.