SIIM and CMA CGM have signed a strategic agreement for 2026 that envisages the weekly transport of more than 70 refrigerated containers of pineapples and bananas from Latin America to Dunkirk.
With this flow, SIIM will consolidate more than 5,000 containers from Africa and Latin America in 2026. This partnership confirms Dunkirk’s position as France’s main port for tropical fruit, reinforcing a high-performance logistics and food supply chain.
After several months of jointly developing a logistics solution from Latin America, CMA CGM and SIIM, a subsidiary of the Omer-Decugis & Cie Group, are strengthening their collaboration with the signing of an agreement for the transport of bananas and pineapples from Colombia, Costa Rica and Ecuador to Dunkirk. This agreement represents an annual volume of more than 80,000 tonnes, now transported by CMA CGM.
Starting in January 2026, more than 70 refrigerated containers will be transported each week on the newly configured NEWFI (PCRF XL) service, which connects Latin America with Northern Europe and is operated by CMA CGM, with exclusive discharge at Dunkirk, the first European port of call.
These flows managed by SIIM, which specializes in the production, import and ripening of tropical fruits and vegetables and were previously routed through the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, will now be directed to the French port.
“By choosing CMA CGM and the Port of Dunkirk for the transport of its fruit, SIIM confirms the reliability and performance of our offering connecting Latin America, the Caribbean and Northern Europe. The strengthening of this service, supported by the arrival of new-generation vessels and the port’s operational capabilities, allows us to offer a regular, competitive and sustainable service. Together with Dunkerque-Port, we are fully committed to supporting the tropical fruit sector and meeting the expectations of French and European importers,” said Pascal Hirn, Senior Vice President of the CMA CGM Group, in charge of Maritime Lines.
“With this bilateral agreement, which further consolidates our partnership with the CMA CGM Group, 50% of our pineapple and banana volumes will now transit through Dunkirk, in addition to the 20,000 tonnes we already channel from the African continent (mangoes, coconuts and other exotic fruits) to the French port. This strategic agreement is fully aligned with our 2030 development plan. It also reflects our ambitions for a decarbonized and sustainable logistics model, supported by the opening of our new logistics and ripening facility, located immediately next to the container terminal, planned for summer 2027 and whose construction will begin next spring,” said Vincent Omer-Decugis, Chairman and CEO of Omer-Decugis & Cie.
“This major agreement between CMA CGM and SIIM highlights the entire ecosystem of excellence dedicated to the transport and logistics of temperature-controlled goods at the Port of Dunkirk. The strengthening of CMA CGM’s NEFWI service expands import opportunities from Latin America, while SIIM confirms, year after year, that it considers Dunkirk a key hub for the logistics management of its flows.
The commissioning in 2027 of a large ripening and logistics platform, located immediately next to the container terminal, will bring added value and job creation for the entire port community. I sincerely thank our two partners for their trust,” declared Daniel Deschodt, Deputy General Manager of Dunkerque-Port.
This agreement reflects the ambition of Omer-Decugis & Cie to make Dunkerque, France’s main port for the import of fresh fruit and vegetables in containers, the main destination port for its products. Beyond its West African mango and coconut campaigns, SIIM will thus channel more than 10,000 TEU through the port in 2026. With the support of Dunkerque-Port and the port community in general, this partnership further consolidates the French port’s position as a major logistics hub in Northern Europe for the distribution of temperature-controlled fruit and vegetables, and strengthens its status as the preferred gateway for fruit from Africa and Latin America.
This service, which connects the French West Indies, the Caribbean and Northern Europe, will increase from 6 to 7 vessels, with greater capacity for refrigerated containers and a new call at Puerto Antioquia, which will facilitate banana exports from Colombia.
CMA CGM thus strengthens its role as a logistics partner for imports from Latin America and the Caribbean, which are essential for France’s food supply. As the first port of call, Dunkerque will benefit from a reliable and regular service, adapted to the needs of French and European importers, thanks to the Flanders Terminal operated by the French shipping company.
