This strategic investment underscores Maersk's long-term commitment to South Africa's economy and its dedication to delivering value to the nation's businesses and people.

The inauguration of Belcon Cold Store represents Maersk's continued focus on strengthening South Africa's critical cold chain logistics network, which is essential for the country's perishable exports sector. South Africa's cold-chain exports, dominated by fresh fruit, particularly citrus and table grapes, account for a substantial portion of the nation's agricultural exports.

"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."

Addressing a critical industry challenge

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."

World-class facilities supporting an unbroken cold chain

With the inauguration of Belcon, Maersk now operates three world-class 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.

Integrated solutions beyond ocean shipping

As an integrated logistics provider, Maersk delivers comprehensive solutions that extend far beyond ocean transportation. 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."

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.

Commitment to South Africa's future

Maersk's USD 100 million-plus investment in South Africa's cold chain network reflects the company's confidence in the country's economic potential and its commitment to supporting local industries in competing globally. By ensuring reliable, temperature-controlled logistics infrastructure, Maersk is helping South African exporters maintain product quality, reduce losses, and access international markets more effectively.

The Belcon Cold Store inauguration reinforces Maersk's position as a strategic partner to South Africa's agricultural sector and demonstrates the company's dedication to delivering solutions that create meaningful impact for the nation's economy and its people.