Major agricultural exporters again name APL Carrier of the Year

SACRAMENTO, CALIF., APRIL 6, 2009 – A key agricultural export association has again named APL its Carrier of the Year. The award was presented this month by The Specialty Crop Trade Council (SCTC), representing more than 140 dried fruit and nut shippers in the U.S.

It was the second time in two years the influential trade group has recognized APL, the world’s seventh-largest container shipping line.

“Agricultural products are a growing part of the U.S. export economy,” pointed out John Bowe, President of the Americas for APL. “We’re proud to support that growth, and honored to be recognized by an organization that is at the heart of global trade.”

The 84-year-old trade council represents merchants and packers who export 95% of all the dried fruit and tree nuts produced in California. In 2008, APL transported cargo for about half of the council’s membership. The product was shipped from five origin points in the U.S. to destinations in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Mediterranean.

SCTC said that its selection of APL as Carrier of the Year was based on the total containers shipped in a calendar year.