Maersk's Olmos Facility: A Cold Chain Masterstroke Fueling Peru's Agro-Export Boom

Peru's agricultural exports are on fire. In the first quarter of 2025, the sector surged 21.2% year-on-year to $2.997 billion, driven by booming shipments of cocoa, fruits, and natural colorings. Yet, this growth is not merely about planting more crops—it's about mastering the logistics that turn raw goods into global commodities. Enter Maersk's newly launched Olmos Facility, a $50 million cold chain hub in northern Peru's Lambayeque region that's rewriting the rules of perishable export logistics. This isn't just infrastructure; it's a strategic play to capitalize on a $132 billion global cold chain market—and investors should take note.

The Cold Chain Revolution in Peru

Peru's agricultural sector has long struggled with post-harvest losses, especially for high-value fruits like blueberries and avocados. Roughly 15-20% of perishable goods spoil before reaching markets due to inadequate cold chain infrastructure—a staggering $3.5 billion annual loss for Latin America alone. Maersk's Olmos Facility tackles this head-on.

The 17,500-square-meter site is a logistical powerhouse:
- Processing: Handles up to 38 tons/hour of avocados/mangoes and 4.5 tons/hour of blueberries, with automated sorting and precooling systems that slash field heat by 70% in just hours.
- Storage: 4,600 climate-controlled bins and 2,088 pallet positions ensure consistent temperatures, extending shelf life by 5-7 days.
- Sustainability: Electrified equipment, water recycling, and planned solar panels by 2026 align with Maersk's net-zero 2040 goals.

The facility's impact is immediate: local exporters report a 10% reduction in fruit damage and faster access to ports like Paita, cutting transit times by 40%. For a sector where timing is everything, this translates to higher prices and market share.

Why This Matters for Investors

The Olmos Facility isn't just a warehouse—it's a catalyst for Peru's agro-export economy. Consider these data points:

• Blueberry exports, Peru's top agricultural product, grew 35.7% in 2024 and now account for 12% of global trade.
• Maersk's stock (MAERSK-B.CO) has risen 28% since 2020 as it expands in high-growth regions like Latin America.

The facility's success hinges on two unstoppable trends:
1. The Cold Chain Gold Rush: Emerging markets are investing $34 billion annually in cold chain infrastructure to reduce waste and meet global demand. Peru's lambayeque region alone produces 40% of the country's avocados and blueberries—crops that require precise refrigeration.
2. Decarbonization as a Competitive Edge: Buyers like Walmart and Carrefour now demand ESG-compliant supply chains. Maersk's solar-powered facilities and reduced-GHG fuels give Peruvian exporters a premium pricing advantage.

Risks and Opportunities

The path isn't without potholes. U.S. tariffs on agricultural imports (up to 10% as of April 2025) threaten margins for blueberry exporters. Yet Maersk's logistics network offers a solution: diversifying markets. The facility's integration with Maersk's global ports and digital tracking systems makes it easier for Peruvian growers to pivot to Asia and Europe.

For investors, the thesis is clear:
- Buy Maersk: Its cold chain expertise and scale (1,200+ warehouses globally) make it a leader in an expanding market.
- Track Peru's Agro-Exports: Companies like Sanrafael (blueberries) and Agroindustrial Group (avocados) could see margin improvements as logistics costs drop.
- Watch Decarbonization Plays: Firms like Carrier Global Corp (CARR), which supplies refrigeration tech, may benefit as Maersk scales its solar and low-emission systems.

The Bottom Line

Maersk's Olmos Facility isn't just about stacking blueberries—it's about building a template for 21st-century logistics in emerging markets. With Peru's agricultural exports on track to hit $15 billion by 2026 and global cold chain demand growing at 9% annually, this is a sector primed to deliver outsized returns. Investors who bet on cold chain infrastructure—and the companies that master it—will be the winners in the race to feed the world.