"I founded Recoupex to empower small to medium-sized exporters worldwide to effectively recover transit losses from for the damage liable carriers," says Recoupex founder Lina Jasutiene, a former defense lawyer for MSC. There, she witnessed firsthand the staggering number of unrecovered cargo claims and their severe financial implications for exporters globally. "This initiative not only educates exporters about loss prevention, and legal rights, but also advances justice within the global supply chain, making a positive difference by protecting the investments of smaller exporters."
But what is Recoupex? "It is a global, on-demand cargo claims recovery hub. Through a vast network of lawyers, we obtain compensation from liable carriers for exporters and importers when cargo is damaged in transit. We offer a full suite of cargo claim recovery services from liable carriers - ocean, multimodal, air cargo shipments - that aim to provide Recoupex clients with fast and seamless claim settlements," explains Jasutiene.
And the result is impressive. "In 2023 we recovered 81% of all claims submitted to us. Recoupex's high success rate is driven by our profound expertise in shipping law and containerized cargo industry knowledge. We provide exporters with on-demand legal defense, no matter where their cargo is headed or where it was damaged. Unlike traditional legal services, we speak the language of exporters and adopt a hands-on, results-based business approach. This blend of efficiency and our motivation to help exporters get back what's theirs is what keeps us going until the claim is paid. And the secret sauce? It's our global team, all synced up with the same mission to recoup their claim."
Recoupex founder Lina Jasutiene
"More than just minor inconveniences"
This can really make a difference for growers, Jasutiene explains. "The most common claims we handle at Recoupex are related to damage due to reefer malfunctions, power outages, and excessive delays. For growers, these issues are more than just minor inconveniences—they are profit-eating problems that can wipe out an entire season's margins. Often, growers lack cargo insurance, or their standard insurance does not to cover these specific claims. That's when Recoupex steps in to assist in recovering losses directly from liable carriers."
And the number of claims is going up. "Nowadays, consumers buy only impeccable appearance and tasty fruits. Quality standards have become stricter. Harvesting, packaging, transportation and storing costs have increased as a result and the cargo quality is scrutinized by the buyers immediately after arrival. Over the last few years, we've seen an increase in the number of claims," Jasutiene notes. "Another trend we witness is enhanced collaboration between buyers and sellers to pursue cargo claims recovery from shipping lines. Buyers provide exporters with damaged cargo evidence, survey reports, mitigate loss, even put the shipping line on notice to secure recovery from the for the damage liable carrier. This trend is here to stay for many years to come," she says.
"The Red Sea crisis has taken its toll"
The situation in the Red Sea has led to longer transit times for sea freight. "The outbreak of the Red Sea crisis has taken its toll on many exporters," Jasutiene agrees. "Due to excessive transit time via the Cape of Good Hope, fresh produce with the short shelf life, such as table grapes from India or citrus from Egypt to Europe are exposed to damage risks. These exporters are affected by the disruptions if they have not diversified buyers. To alleviate financial implications for exporters when fruit arrives rotten at the destination after 68 days of transit time, Recoupex pursues cargo claims recoveries. Some of these claims are recoverable," she underlines.
While air freight is increasingly criticized, Jasutiene predicts that multimodal and sea transport will be important for the fresh produce sector. "For most fresh produce, ocean and multimodal transport remain the preferred options due to their cost-effectiveness for relatively low-value cargo. In 2024, easing road and port congestion further supports the shift away from more expensive airfreight, which was also affected by reciprocal overflight bans last year. For high-value berries and exotic fruits, air freight is essential to ensure freshness and quality, despite its higher cost. Looking ahead, we anticipate that multimodal and sea transport will continue to play significant roles for fresh produce imports to German-speaking countries, balancing cost-efficiency with environmental considerations. This approach not only meets economic and increased consumption demands but also aligns with environmental awareness and regulatory expectations in the region."
"Poised to lead a significant shift"
"Looking ahead, Recoupex is poised to lead a significant shift in the cargo claims recovery industry among fresh produce exporters, who are increasingly recognizing the importance of pursuing genuine claims. Exporters are no longer content to absorb transit loses every time. Instead, they're eager to upskill, gather necessary documentation, and actively pursue recoveries from liable carriers. Recoupex is at the forefront of championing this empowering movement."
"Our vision for Recoupex is to become the number one choice for on-demand cargo claims recoveries for small to medium-sized fresh produce exporters globally," she concludes. "By educating our clients about their rights and the claims process, and providing the tools and support they need to successfully recover their losses, we aim to not only grow our presence in developing, fruit growing countries but also strengthen the resilience and profitability of local growers in this crucial sector."
For more information:
Lina Jasutiene
Recoupex GmbH
Web: www.recoupex.com
Mail: [email protected]
Tel: +41 76 682 8203