Brazilian volumes almost reach previous record levels

Some 202m tonnes of cargo moved through Brazil’s public private ports/terminals during Q3, 2010 according to the national water transportation agency, Agência Nacional de Transportes Aquaviários (ANTAQ). The volume was up 12.5% from the preceding quarter and 21.9% up on Q3 2009 and brought volume for the year to September, to 558.4m tonnes representing a year-on-year increase of 21.9%.

ANTAQ predicts volume for the full year will reach 760m tonnes, which would almost equal the record of 768m tonnes, indicating a near complete recovery from the economic crisis.

The greatest growth so far this year was in bulk trades, particularly iron ore, much of which is exported to China, the Far East and Europe. Chemicals, soybeans, bauxite, sugar, fertilisers, and steel also registered double-digit gains.

ANTAQ data shows Brazil's container trade rebounding from the steep decline that followed the onset of the 2008 financial crisis. Thanks largely to a resurgent domestic demand for imported goods, container throughput was up by 18.6% for Q1 to 1.29m teu and by 14.3% for the first nine months to 4.08m teu from 2009. However, despite the improvement, volumes still remain below the record levels of 2008.

ANTAQ is concerned about the impact on Brazilian trade of the US Federal Reserve Bank actions aimed at resuscitating the American economy. These actions it says, have stimulated North American demand for Brazilian raw materials and semi-finished goods, but the resulting weakening of the US dollar has driven down prices and undercut the international competitiveness of Brazilian manufactured goods. The overall consequence of this has been higher volumes and lower values of cargos shipped through the country's ports.
(Source:www.container-mag.com)