While the main driver for the liner’s positive results were the cost savings growth also played its part. “Latin America market, in the global picture, is still above average for shipping growth. Looking at the countries, trade from Asia to Mexico grew 8% and to Chile, 12%,” said van Trooijen. “Asia trade to Brazil was less than 2% while trade with the River Plate was quite good, growing by 8%, compared to the same period in 2012 when issues on licence imports [reduced cargo volumes],”he explained.
The Asia-Caribbean trade was affected by the poor performance of Venezuela that posted negative growth since there is a lack of foreign currency in the country. “Venezuela is going through a difficult period but the fundamental demand is there. Production and payments are the issues but we have strong beliefs that one day it will bounce back.”
The region, from Mexico to South America and the Caribbean, imports more than it exports. “The container market in Latin America grows more than elsewhere and I think we will continue with [Maersk] participation in the market,” said van Trooijen.
However, he said, “We don’t foresee a strong Christmas peak season, definitely not as strong as in 2012 which was an unusually robust season. This is because industry lifting’s are not similar to last year, and that is mostly due to the economic slowdown that is felt also in Latin America.”
Maersk Line has recently added two calls to Manzanillo-Mexico in the services AC2 and AC3 giving better coverage to the services from Asia to Mexico, as well as improved connectivity from Mexico to Chile, to Colombia and Ecuador.
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