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Chiquita Brands International Inc. is returning its shipping operations to the Port of New Orleans after a nearly 40-year absence.

Chiquita Shipping Operations Return to New Orleans

Chiquita Brands International Inc. is returning its shipping operations to the Port of New Orleans after a nearly 40-year absence.

Beginning in first quarter 2015, Chiquita plans to ship 30,000 to 39,000 TEUs of imported bananas and other fresh fruit plus 30,000 to 39,000 TEUs of various outbound cargos through New Orleans annually. That equates to a roughly 15 percent increase in the port’s current container volume.

"We at Chiquita are thrilled to return to the port and the great city of New Orleans as we implement a new shipping configuration," said Chiquita Brands International Inc. Senior Vice President Mario Pacheco, who supervises the company’s global logistics. "We are particularly excited about the enhanced service levels to our Chiquita and Great White Fleet customers that will result from this change in our shipping operations and expanded vessel capacity."

An LSU economic impact study suggests the project will create approximately 270 to 350 permanent jobs in New Orleans – based upon the range of TEUs shipped – as well as an increase in total economic output of $373 million to $485 million over the next 10 years.

"In many, many ways this is a great and historic moment for the Port of New Orleans, City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana," said Port President Gary LaGrange, PPM®."The opportunity to bring home the leader of industry in the early to mid-part of last century is absolutely fantastic."

The state of Louisiana will provide Chiquita a performance-based incentive of $18.55 per TEU (total value of $1.11 million to $1.45 million annually) to offset increased shipping and handling costs at the Port of New Orleans, and will invest $2.2 million in a port-owned distribution/ripening facility to be leased to Chiquita. The port will spend $2.0 million for refrigerated-container electrical infrastructure and rehabilitation of a container freight warehouse to accommodate the project.

New Orleans Port President and CEO Gary LaGrange, PPM®, hands out Chiquita bananas following Chiquita Brands International Inc.'s May 14 announcement that it was returning its shipping operations to New Orleans. Pictured from left are Joe Accardo, executive director of the Ports Association of Louisiana, Port Commissioners Robert Barkerding Jr. and Michael Kearney, and Mr. LaGrange.
Photo/Port of New Orleans