Logistics

Shipping containers carry most of the world’s traded goods. They are also one of the main pathways for hitchhiker pests such as brown marmorated stink bug and khapra beetle. Fume8 gives the logistics sector a faster, cleaner way to treat containers and cargo where they are.

1. Market snapshot

Containers handled at ports each year, measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). A TEU is a unit of capacity, not a count of individual containers.

  • Worldwide: 920 million TEU in 2024 (UNCTAD)
  • China: 354 million TEU in 2025 (Government of China)
  • Australia: 9.1 million TEU at the five major container ports of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Fremantle and Adelaide in 2024–25 (BITRE)

2. Biosecurity at the border

  • In 2024–25 the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) supported the clearance of more than 2.6 million containers. More than 680,000 of these required the department’s intervention (DAFF).
  • Seasonal measures apply to target high risk goods from target risk countries to manage brown marmorated stink bug (DAFF).
  • DAFF has approved ethyl formate as a treatment option for brown marmorated stink bug offshore (DAFF) and onshore (DAFF).
  • Containers packed in khapra beetle target risk countries face additional measures. DAFF added seven countries to the target risk list in 2026 (DAFF).
  • CSIRO reports an 88% rise in contaminated new vehicles arriving in Australia since 2021 (CSIRO).

3. How Fume8 helps logistics

  • On-site generation: Fume8 produces the fumigant on site from liquid ethyl formate and nitrogen. There is no need to ship pre-mixed pressurised cylinders.
  • Faster turnaround: Research has shown ethyl formate with nitrogen achieved complete control of brown marmorated stink bug in 3 hour exposures (Pest Management Science). Shorter treatments mean containers move sooner.
  • Safer for workers: Ethyl formate has a much higher worker exposure threshold than phosphine or methyl bromide. See Fume8 Advantages.
  • Treatment in transit: Research has tested fumigating containers in transit from Perth to Barrow Island (Inspector-General of Biosecurity). Read the Barrow Island case study.

To discuss Fume8 for your logistics operation, contact us.