South American Ports

Itajai this year has received seven roll-on, roll-off vessels and is slated to handle more through November and December.

Terminal de Conteineres de Paranaguá (TCP), also known as Paranaguá, is in an annual race with another port for the title of “global chicken export port king,” and its officials are not subtle regarding where they want to finish each year.

Just when conditions started to return to normal for shippers who use Santos, stevedores Wednesday will implement a three-day strike aimed at securing an agreed-to pay increase.

The suspension decision was implemented after delegates from the National Sindifisco and a politician close to Brazilian President Michel Temer reached an agreement.

Truckers and others are striking because Petrobras, the state-controlled oil company, has gradually increased diesel prices — by more than 40 percent — over six months, at the same time that the Temer administration has substantially hiked fuel taxes.

Port managers want to re-brand the locale in a new, distinct role, with an eye toward two key markets.

The end of Grupo Libra operations at the Port of Santos would cause problems for shippers, freight forwarders, and non-vessel operating common carriers, as it would reduce their options and could lead to a rise in terminal handling charges, as well as fewer deepsea services.

Shippers are benefiting from a new Contrail intermodal terminal and railroad service from the São Paulo hinterland to the key Brazilian Port of Santos. The Jundiaí Intermodal Terminal is strategically located and has opened at an opportune time — as Brazil’s container volumes rise with the strengthening regional and global economies.

To accommodate the market share gains, the port is ramping up its expansion program, which will boost capacity from 500,000 TEU to 1.2 million TEU.

The news is welcome by Santos port shippers and carriers because their costs have been substantially above the Brazilian national and international averages in recent years.

Most of the improvement stems from the company's $44.1 million investment in new equipment, including three ship-to-shore gantry cranes, at the year’s start.

Fruit shippers' longstanding frustration with what they describe as high rates and low service levels could change with the introduction of more competition.