KHOLD – COEGA FRUIT TERMINAL is a Cold storage facility establishment in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa
KHOLD – COEGA FRUIT TERMINAL: Comprehensive Cold Chain Facility in Gqeberha
KHOLD’s Coega facility in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) represents a pioneering, all-in-one solution for the fruit value chain. Positioned within Coega’s Special Economic Zone, the site unites fruit packing, refrigerated warehousing and container depot activities under one roof. This integrated approach is designed to streamline export flows, improve cold chain integrity and enhance operational efficiency for growers, exporters and local distributors alike.
The standout feature of the Coega operation is its capacity to load, stage and plug-in 240 reefer containers on site. This capability reduces dependency on external handling and helps maintain continuous temperature control during the critical export and import phases. As a result, clients can anticipate a smoother export process with fewer interruptions, underpinned by advanced infrastructure and a coordinated workflow.
In terms of scale, the 16,000 square metre facility houses a high-tech fruit packing operation alongside dedicated cold storage spaces and a dedicated container depot. The packing line is equipped with automated systems and includes de-greening facilities, local market pack-lines, and bin washing, nesting and storage facilities. The configuration is designed to accelerate the time from harvest to cooled product, enabling palletised export products to be cooled rapidly and conform to South Africa’s stringent export fruit standards.
Cold storage at Coega is characterised by flexible, cell-based temperature management. The facility can accommodate up to 8,000 pallets, with individually temperature-controlled cells that can be as small as 40 pallets. This arrangement supports cold-treatment for small consignments within shorter timeframes and enhances energy efficiency through controlled access, airlock entries and exits, and precise environmental control.
The dedicated 3,300 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) container depot provides on-site reefer inspection, maintenance, repair and specialises in container preparation for fruit products arriving at the facility. Full container handling capabilities, combined with 240 plug-in points, help ensure continuous, reliable container loading even during external terminal slowdowns or interruptions elsewhere in the supply chain.
KHOLD’s Coega facility thus represents a notable milestone as South Africa’s first fully integrated fruit storage facility of its kind. Its services span the full spectrum from packing and processing through to cold storage and container handling, providing a cohesive ecosystem that supports export, import and local distribution.
Services and Benefits
- Fully integrated fruit packing, refrigerated warehousing and container depot operations in a single site.
- High-capacity cold storage for up to 8,000 pallets with temperature-controlled cells and precise climate management.
- On-site reefer container depot with 240 plug-in points and comprehensive container handling capabilities.
- On-site packing facilities, including automated packing lines, de-greening, local market pack-lines, bin washing, nesting and storage.
- Efficient cold chain processing to prioritise rapid cooling and compliance with export quality standards.
- Energy-efficient operations with airlock entries and exits and dedicated temperature management.
Typical Jobs and Client Interactions
Industry activity centres on fresh fruit export and local market distribution, with facilities tailored to citrus and other produce. The site supports import, export and local distribution by providing rapid cooling, quality packing and consolidated logistics capabilities. The on-site reefer depot ensures prompt container maintenance and prepared reefer equipment, designed to keep fruit at optimal temperatures during transit.
Customer Experience and Practical Tips
Visitor feedback highlights Coega as a world-class, one-stop facility that combines a container depot with reefer plug points, cold rooms, a pack house and a dedicated transport division. The integrated nature of the operation is seen as a major advantage for exporters seeking end-to-end handling in a single location. Some reviewers note opportunities for improved customer service and premises cleanliness, suggesting that, like many large-scale facilities, ongoing facilities management remains a live focus for continued excellence.
Practical tips for customers planning to use Coega include coordinating with the container depot ahead of arrival to ensure plug-in readiness, scheduling packing and cooling activities to capitalise on the shortest possible time from harvest to cooling, and aligning shipping documentation with the facility’s integrated processes to minimise handling times. Clients should also be prepared for varied scales of operation, from full pallet loads to smaller consignments, leveraging the cell-based storage to optimise space and temperature control.
Geographically, Coega serves the Eastern Cape region and broader national import/export flows, aligning with KHOLD’s broader operations in Durban and across major distribution hubs. The Coega site complements KHOLD’s NeXL digital platform, enabling enhanced visibility for container transport and reinforcing the overall reliability of the cold chain network.
Gqeberha
Eastern Cape
South Africa
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Cold storage facility services in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape
In Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, cold storage facilities provide essential warehousing for perishable goods, pharmaceutical products, and other temperature-sensitive commodities. These sites are designed to maintain precise environmental conditions, supported by insulated structures, refrigeration systems, and monitored temperature regimes. The emphasis is on reliability, product integrity, and efficient handling from receipt through to dispatch.
Typical services encompass a range of temperature-controlled storage solutions. Dry rooms or ambient storage may be available alongside dedicated chilled and frozen spaces. Facilities commonly offer controlled temperature ranges that suit different product requirements, with common bands including general chill, controlled refrigeration, and deep freeze. Some operations also provide below-freezing or ultra-cold environments for specialised needs. The aim is to keep products within safe limits to preserve quality, safety, and shelf life, while minimising temperature excursions during handling and transit.
Operational activities are structured around secure intake, storage, and outbound processes. On arrival, goods are checked for compliance with documentation and batch integrity, then logged into a warehouse management system and allocated appropriate storage locations. Staging areas facilitate order picking and consolidation prior to outbound shipments. Reverse logistics, returns processing, and rework of damaged items may be supported where appropriate, subject to policy and product nature. Access control, surveillance, and clear record-keeping underpin the broader framework of product security and traceability.
Many cold storage facilities in the region provide a mix of rack storage, palletised handling, and automated or semi-automated systems to optimise space utilisation and throughput. This enables acoustic and thermal separation of different products within the same site, reducing cross-contamination risk for sensitive items such as dairy, meat, fruit, vegetables, and certain pharmaceutical items. Temperature monitoring is a core feature, typically with continuous data logging, alarms for deviations, and contingency plans to respond to equipment failures or power interruptions. Businesses relying on cold storage rely on robust maintenance regimes for refrigeration plants, insulation integrity, door sealing, and defrost cycles to sustain performance.
- Temperature-controlled warehousing (chilled and frozen storage)
- Receipt, inspection, and quality checks upon arrival
- Inventory management, pick-and-pack services, and order fulfilment
- Speech and data capture for traceability and regulatory compliance
- Cross-docking, consolidation, and distribution support
- Temperature monitoring, alarm systems, and disaster recovery planning
- Secure loading and unloading areas, and controlled access
For customers evaluating cold storage in Gqeberha, practical considerations extend beyond the temperature regime. Facility accessibility is important for timely transport connections, with proximity to major routes and, where applicable, intermodal options. Power reliability and backup generation capacity are critical to maintaining uninterrupted cooling, particularly for longer storage cycles or fragile product lines. Hygiene, pest control, and sanitation practices are integral to maintaining product quality and compliance with general food safety standards or pharmaceutical guidelines. Clear communication on handling procedures, documentation practices, and defined service levels helps businesses plan inventory flow, manage risk, and safeguard their supply chains.
Overall, cold storage facility services in Gqeberha offer a combination of temperature-controlled storage, systematic handling, and monitoring designed to support diverse product categories while aligning with regional logistics networks. The emphasis remains on maintaining product integrity, enabling efficient distribution, and adapting to variations in demand and regulatory expectations within the Eastern Cape.