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The ZIM Colibri Xpress has set sail!

Daniel Tejeda
Daniel Tejeda
Andrea Ochoa Lopez
Andrea Ochoa Lopez

The West Coast of South America stands out as one of the most thriving refrigerated markets in Latin America, with over 100,000 TEUs transported globally. Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia are the primary driving forces behind this market, thanks to the region’s diverse range of fruits, vegetables, and seafood, combined with favorable climatic conditions, which contribute to the growing demand of the industry.

Ecuador’s primary export commodities consists of year-round bananas, frozen seafood, as well as seasonal commodities such as pitahaya and mango.

Colombia is often referred to as South America’s “banana capital” due to its massive production and harvest in regions such as Turbo, Uraba, and Santa Marta, all home to all major banana producers.

Chile and Peru are also vital economic drivers of refrigerated exports. With over two decades of experience in exporting high volumes of chilled goods, these countries have some of the most mature markets in South America. This market is characterized by sensitive commodities that require highly specialized management, such as apples, kiwis, stone fruits, citrus, berries, and asparagus.

Chile has long been recognized as the leading avocado producer in South America and a key avocado exporter to the US. Over the last few years, there has been a slight decrease in the country’s avocado production due to land drying up. However, the country has also been focusing on exporting cherries to Asia, particularly in time for the Chinese New Year.

To accommodate the growing demand and needs of the region’s thriving export industry, we are pleased to announce a new, vibrant solution that caters to this increased demand – the ZIM Colibri Xpress.

Named after the agile and beautiful South American hummingbird, ZCX is an express service connecting the South American West Coast and the US East Coast, Canada, Central America, and the Caribbean, with an emphasis on transporting refrigerated goods.

Competitive transit times to US ports, mid-week arrival/departure and outstanding connection between South America’s West Coast to the US East Coast. These are just some of the many advantages provided by ZIM’s Colibri service. With additional Intra West Coast of South America connectivity and transshipment connections from North America to the US, Canada, and all Latin America trades, this service is opening a world of opportunities for the reefer sector.

When transporting perishable goods, time is of the essence, and delays can result in significant losses. By utilizing this service, customers can take advantage of our 24/7 customer support team, and the newest refrigerated fleet equipped with the most reliable and advanced technologies on the market, reducing concerns about potential failures.

Daniel Tejeda

ZIM Line Manager North & South America
[email protected]
With 15 years of experience in the shipping industry, I have held diverse roles in customer service, sales, and line management. Through my extensive experience, I’ve gained a deep understanding of the Latin American markets.

Andrea Ochoa Lopez

ZIM Caribbean and Central America District Commercial Manager
[email protected]
Approximately 15 years of shipping experience mainly working on the commercial side, and in specific having the opportunity to have a close relation with the commodity segments (dry and reefer). However, reefers have a very special place in my heart 😊