The electricity, logistics and storage problems that the ports of Florida and Puerto Rico faces after Hurricane Irma will affect Costa Rican exporters.
Laura Bonilla, president of the Chamber of Exporters, explained that 50% of the perishable products that Costa Rica exports use these two ports, which will face difficulties to receive the ships or to store the products.
Among the perishables the country sells to the United States, many of them entering through the port of Florida, are pineapples, bananas and fruit juices and concentrates, while roots and tubers are sold to Puerto Rico.
"In the export sector today there is uncertainty because we are reminded that almost 50% of the perishable product goes to the ports of Florida and Puerto Rico, which is why we are concerned about the repercussions that this may have on the ship's delay to restore electricity. On the positive side, the hurricane deviated and not as much happened to these two ports that are extremely important for Costa Rica, "explained Bonilla.
He added that some companies are looking for alternatives like other ports to disembark further north in the United States.
Bonilla added that some products can be lost because they could not be stored under normal conditions, but others can withstand more days.
The president hopes that once conditions are normalized and trade is restored, sales will pick up, implying that there would be more work in the coming weeks.
Lander Román, Logistics of the Foreign Trade Promoter analyst, foresees shipments grouping together in a single week.
"It's still very early and we still do not have data. Yes there is going to be some impact because the port of Florida was closed and opened only today, but still it is very premature to say what those effects could be. Some products will probably arrive around five days later than expected and those with a short shelf life will be affected. Everything seems to indicate that we will group two week's loads into one," he said.
The Foreign Trade Chamber (Crecex) was also consulted, but no response was obtained at the close of this publication.
Source: nacion.com