Brazilian container throughput slackens as economy lurches into 2013
BRAZILIAN container traffic declined 1.2 per cent fourth quarter 2012 reflecting a slowdown in the rate of the economy's recovery.
Industrial production has yo-yoed with the country's exports down by 3.1 per cent and imports up by a meagre 0.6 per cent due to less machinery being sent to one of its biggest markets of Asia, said Maersk Line of Brazil head Peter Gyde of "quite discouraging" overall volumes at two per cent year on year, lowest recorded since first quarter 2011.
"That is a big concern, because Asia is a huge receiver of the typical Brazilian export products, which are generally commodities," Mr Gyde said, cited a report from Reuters. "When they buy less it is because they are producing less or sourcing somewhere else."
Despite the country's attempt to stimulate consumption in tax breaks in auto industry, sustained growth is lacking and likely to continue into 2013 with its top trade partner China slowing down demand for Brazil exports.
During the fourth quarter, Brazil's exports of soybeans dramatically plunged year-on-year to 62.9 per cent against rising sugar cargo volumes up at 31.7 per cent. Refrigerated goods dropped 11.9 per cent year on year with "dry" non-refrigerated goods up slightly at 0.4 per cent.
The last harvest yielded a bumper crop of soybeans at 80 million tonnes which will improve export volume. However, such volumes will run into troubles caused by the country's inadequate rails and roads congestion.
"The opportunity for Brazil to continue growth and become more competitive is to invest in infrastructure. It's not about building more ports, it's about access to and from these ports, which is a bigger bottleneck," said Mr Gyde.
Imports of consumer goods improved by 22 per cent with finished manufacturing goods up 10.4 per cent. Fruits, vegetables and plants declined by 18.6 per cent and cotton, machinery, appliances and electronics were down nine per cent.
BRAZILIAN container traffic declined 1.2 per cent fourth quarter 2012 reflecting a slowdown in the rate of the economy's recovery.
Industrial production has yo-yoed with the country's exports down by 3.1 per cent and imports up by a meagre 0.6 per cent due to less machinery being sent to one of its biggest markets of Asia, said Maersk Line of Brazil head Peter Gyde of "quite discouraging" overall volumes at two per cent year on year, lowest recorded since first quarter 2011.
"That is a big concern, because Asia is a huge receiver of the typical Brazilian export products, which are generally commodities," Mr Gyde said, cited a report from Reuters. "When they buy less it is because they are producing less or sourcing somewhere else."
Despite the country's attempt to stimulate consumption in tax breaks in auto industry, sustained growth is lacking and likely to continue into 2013 with its top trade partner China slowing down demand for Brazil exports.
During the fourth quarter, Brazil's exports of soybeans dramatically plunged year-on-year to 62.9 per cent against rising sugar cargo volumes up at 31.7 per cent. Refrigerated goods dropped 11.9 per cent year on year with "dry" non-refrigerated goods up slightly at 0.4 per cent.
The last harvest yielded a bumper crop of soybeans at 80 million tonnes which will improve export volume. However, such volumes will run into troubles caused by the country's inadequate rails and roads congestion.
"The opportunity for Brazil to continue growth and become more competitive is to invest in infrastructure. It's not about building more ports, it's about access to and from these ports, which is a bigger bottleneck," said Mr Gyde.
Imports of consumer goods improved by 22 per cent with finished manufacturing goods up 10.4 per cent. Fruits, vegetables and plants declined by 18.6 per cent and cotton, machinery, appliances and electronics were down nine per cent.