Although Greek fruit production has become more and more modern and open to the outside world, it lacks a necessary element to ensure and facilitate the growth of export turnover. “This element is cargo insurance,” emphasizes Mr. Alexandros Chatzopoulos, owner of entrepreneurial and industrial insurance company Chatzopoulos Insurance. “The expansion of Greek exports to even more destinations and the increase in export volumes make cargo insurance more necessary than ever. But few Greek exporters understand this necessity and enter into such contracts. For example, our company works with 30 Greek exporters and less than half of them have took out a cargo insurance contract”, explains the Greek insurance entrepreneur. specific hazards.
The example of kiwi
Mr. Chatzopoulos explains some typical cases: “Let’s take the example of kiwi, which is a widely exported Greek product that is appreciated all over the world. The United States, Canada and generally the American continent represent a crucial market that expresses great demand for this fruit. However, less than half of the Greek kiwifruit shipments sent there at the expense of exporters are covered by cargo insurance against certain risks associated with such long routes, for example, the most common problem is severe temperature fluctuations in the Atlantic Ocean, which can cause defects in container refrigeration systems, which results in the fruit arriving at the destination soft or of generally unacceptable quality.Similar climatic hazards, exacerbated by the climate crisis, occur more often during overseas trips by Greek kiwis.In addition, during these trips there is always a risk of storms that can cause damaging movements of the product inside the containers.
The Greek kiwi season officially started on 15 October. Although US importers are expressing significant demand for Greek kiwifruit, Greek exporters are somewhat reluctant as they fear massive dock workers strikes on the east coast will break out again. “There are special clauses in insurance contracts that protect exporters in such cases,” emphasizes Mr Chatzopoulos, whose years of experience also extend to insuring against the frequent phenomenon of stowaways in lorries of fresh produce bound for the UK and EU countries.
Greek exporters are only just beginning to realize the enormous possibilities offered by cargo insurance
“The Greek export community needs to change its way of thinking about the value of cargo insurance. Fortunately, the new generation entering the market has a modern attitude to the real needs of insurance. Greece uses only 3- 4% of its GDP on the insurance market, while a very similar country, Portugal, spends three times that percentage of excellent prospects in terms of insurance, which will primarily benefit entrepreneurs in this sector”, concludes Mr Chatzopoulos.
For more information:
Alexandros Chatzopoulos
Chatzopoulos’ insurance
Such. : +30 2510 391 767
Port. : +30 6972 883 152
[email protected]
www.chatzopoulos-insurance.gr/
