Australian exporters feel the pinch as shipping container shortage, COVID-19 protocols take a toll

Australian food exporters are being caught in a global supply chain crunch as a shortage of food-grade shipping containers drives up costs and slashes the shelf life of fresh produce.

After the grounding of international airlines all but crushed the air freight trade, many producers looked to the sea as an avenue to the market.

But that channel is narrowing as global container shortages and booming consumer demand blow out transit times.

The container shortage is also compounding the challenges…