Shipping lines want piece of Brazilian port action

And in Itajai, Maersk Line – via its port terminal operation AP Moller Terminals – has already ensconced itself in the industrialised and rapidly growing state of Santa Catarina by buying a 51% share in Teconvi, the biggest container terminal operator in Itajai.

Santa Catarina is the leading Brazilian state for chicken and other reefer exports and market leaders like MSC and Maersk Line (which consolidated its position in this sector after purchasing PONL) have moved swiftly to make sure their expensive reefer boxes and ships are serviced properly.

Chilean carrier CSAV – as a result of its links with Libra Terminais – tends to favour using the facilities at T-37 in Santos, Terminal One in Rio de Janeiro and Imbituba, in Santa Catarina, rather than Itajai.

Hamburg Süd, which has a Brazilian flag carrier under its banner in the guise of Alianca Navegacao e Logistica Ltda, is also keen to get in on the act, while French carrier CMA CGM has also been expanding rapidly in Brazil. Its subsidiary CMA CGM do Brasil has looked at various port terminal projects, notably at Belem in the north of the country, and more latterly at Natal in the northeast.