Sumitomo Corporation and Orient Overseas Container Line Limited have announced the signing of a business alliance agreement to provide refrigerated ocean transport that utilizes electric field technology and realizes the long-term preservation of freshness for a variety of commercial products.

International transportation of perishable products, which must be preserved freshness, faces challenges to be transported in the shortest possible transit time in ocean transportation, and high cost burden in air transportation.

Taking advantage of the development of electric field containers conducted by MARS Company, Inc. (Head office: Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture/Sumitomo Corporation 8.53% investment), Sumitomo Corporation established an electric field container procurement system with the cooperation of Daiichi Institution Industry Co.,Ltd., which manufactures and sells electric field-related equipment, and OOCL. Additionally, Sumitomo Corporation also obtained patents, including one for a "food transportation method" that lowers the non-freezing temperature of food products and improves the freshness retention effect.

 OOCL is one of the world's largest integrated international container transportation and logistics companies.

Sumitomo Corporation and OOCL aim to establish a new standard for freshness-preserving logistics by developing refrigerated ocean transport based on this service. Through the promotion of this service, Sumitomo Corporation and OOCL would like to realize ocean transportation of non-freezing chilled products from distant locations, which is currently impossible, and to deliver attractive food products in fresh and stable conditions to wider locations in the world.

In implementing this service, Sumitomo Corporation and OOCL have conducted a 30-month demonstration experiment and successfully established the new mechanism to distribute.

Sumitomo Corporation and OOCL will continue to build a more environmentally friendly global logistics network through price-competitive, high-quality, low-carbon refrigerated maritime transportation by leveraging the strengths and business bases of both companies.