Moving 30% of the global volume of refrigerated exports, a total of 30 million tons, South America plays and important role in the traffic of such products; information that was released in the ECLAC's latest newsletter about the sector, in which they also detailed the sector's situation in the subcontinent.
The report also indicates that in 2011, exports of refrigerated products accounted for 12% of the total exported value, an amount that is the equivalent to $ 40 billion dollars.
As we discern these figures, it is noted that in 2011 refrigerated cargo exports on the West Coast of the continent, totalled 17,700 million dollars, of which 90% of the export volume and 85% of the export value in the sub-region corresponds to shipments of fruit. In this area, the main products exported were: (in tonnes) bananas, 5.3 million; apples, 960,000; grapes, tropical fruits 900,000 and 440,000.
In the same period, the East Coast mobilized 30,000 million dollars, 40% more than the Western Coast. This, despite the similar volume of refrigerated exports marked by both sub-regions, due to the higher value per unit of exported meat over fruit. The detail of the tonnage figures indicate that from the East side, among other products, were mobilized in total: (in tonnes) poultry, 4 million; citrus, 1.6 million; beef, 1.5 million; pears and quinces, 700,000; pork products, 460,000.
However, it is expected that the West Coast will increase the value of their exports as a result of the signs that show that fishing is recovering. A promising sector which highlights a vigorous demand from the Russian Federation and the Far East.
Exports destinations
The report notes that most of the mainland's perishable exports are destined for northern Europe. On the western side, Peru and Ecuador are the countries that are the most dependent on the European market, which receives 50% of exports of perishable products. Meanwhile Chile, allocates 18% of its total exports to the Asian market.
In the Eastern sector, Argentina and Uruguay depend on the markets in Europe and the Mediterranean. They sent 40% and 50%, respectively, of their refrigerated products to Northern Europe, while the Mediterranean region receives only 16% of these shipments. Brazil, meanwhile, sends similar amounts to three markets: 28% to Europe, 28% to the Middle East and 22% of its exports to the Far East.
Container capacity
As for the capacity for refrigerated and dry cargo containers, the report says that it has drastically increased in the main trade routes of South America, from the year 2000. In this regard, some figures indicate that, on average. TEU capacity has increased by 130% between 2000 and 2012, while the capacity for refrigerated containers rose by 200% in the same period.
The higher growth in TEU capacity corresponding to 200% was recorded in the route between the West coast of South America and Asia. It also highlights the fast growth of connections for refrigerated containers on the route between Asia and the East coast of South America in the same period that increased by 350%.
According to the report the ships docking in the eastern coast have a greater capacity in the subcontinent, reaching an average of 4810 TEU and a number of 650 connections for refrigerated containers, in sum, a 14% of the total container capacity of an average ship. While on the West Coast, the average capacity is 4,450 TEU, with a number of connections for refrigerated containers of 560, 13% of a vessels capacity.
Conventional reefer vessels to the low
One factor that captures the attention of the report refers to the decline in the market share of conventional reefer vessels. This is explained by the increased capacity of liner shipping services.
In this regard, it is specified that since mid-2011, these services have a capacity of 236 million cubic feet. Despite the reduction, they indicate that there still is a strong market for conventional transportation systems that is evaluated positively because it provides a fast and straightforward service, having the advantage of accessing regions and ports with a lower infrastructure. It should be noted 35% of this stops by this type of ships worldwide are made in South America, being second only to Africa with 37%.
The report ends by noting that the capacity of the vessels on the West coast will rise significantly with the expansion of the Panama Canal, which should be ready in 2015; which suggests that the vessels that will be used will equal or exceed those used in the East coast, a scenario that rises the question of whether the conventional transport operators will manage to keep their fleets in the immediate future.
Source: Cepal