HMM (011200.KS) said on the 15th that it has shipped the largest volume of U.S. California-grown oranges imported into Korea for the fourth consecutive year.
According to "Piers Data" from JOC, a U.S. shipping research institute, HMM transported 42% (3,060 TEU) of California-grown oranges imported into Korea this year, ranking first in the sector.
HMM has held the top position for four consecutive years since recording a 25% market share (2,380 TEU) in 2023. Despite an overall decline in orange import volumes, the company has continued to expand its share through stable container supply management and vessel schedule management.
Fresh cargo such as oranges is transported in "reefer containers" capable of refrigeration and freezing. Because freshness must be maintained during long-distance sea transport, such cargo is classified as high-value-added freight requiring meticulous management.
Based on its high level of reefer service capabilities, HMM is also actively pursuing new markets. The company has met the needs of domestic shippers by safely transporting high-value cargo previously shipped by air, such as Washington cherries, via sea. In addition, driven by the K-culture boom, surging export volumes of K-food and K-cosmetics products are also being actively transported overseas through reefer containers.
Recently, HMM has been shipping export volumes of domestically produced small mackerel through its newly launched West Africa feeder network based on a "hub-and-spoke" strategy. While small mackerel has low preference in Korea, it suits African culinary culture of cooking whole fish and offers superior price competitiveness compared to Northern European products, making it more popular locally than Russian or Japanese products.
"As reefer container transport technology advances, the range of items has recently diversified and the pace of change has accelerated," an HMM official said. "We plan to improve profitability by expanding into new high-value-added markets."
