ShareMaritime reefer trade in South America
In 2011, reefer exports accounted for 12% of the value of total exports from the east and west coasts of South America, equivalent to USD 40 billion.
In 2011, reefer exports accounted for 12% of the value of total exports from the east and west coasts of South America, equivalent to USD 40 billion.
Reefer trade is a rapidly growing market in South America which has increased the demand for maritime refrigerated transport (or containerized transport) and led to structural changes in the industry. There has been impressive growth in the demand for reefer exports from the west and east coasts of South America since 1995, and today, they export 30% of the global reefer trade. The export volume for the two coasts is the same, but the export composition differs.
The export value for the east coast was 40% higher than that of the west coast due to its high share of meat exports. However, the export value for the west coast is expected to increase due to the recent recovery in exports of fish, a promising market with a high demand from Russia and the Far East.
In 2011, the value of reefer exports from the west coast increased to USD 17.7 billion. The west coast is the leading exporter of fruit, which accounts for 90% of the export volume and 85% of the reefer export value for the subregion.
In 2011, the east coast recorded the highest reefer export values in the region, amounting to USD 30 billion. Meat exports accounted for 63% (6.6 million tons) of the export value of perishable goods from the east coast and although 6.3 million tons of fruit were exported, this was equivalent to only 23% of the reefer value for the subregions.
The main export destination for both of the subregions is Northern Europe. Chile and Brazil, however, are the least dependent on this market. They have higher export shares in Asia and the Far East, regions which are becoming more important, because of the rapid growth of their populations and the increasing demand for perishable goods.
Container capacity supply:
The capacity of dry and reefer containers has increased considerably on all of the principal trade lanes from South America since 2000. The twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) capacity increased by 130% on average between 2000 and 2012, while the reefer capacity increased by 200% during the same period. The most significant increase in TEU capacity was by 220% on the trade lane between the west coast and Asia, while the strongest growth in reefer plugs was by 350% on the route between Asia and the east coast during the same period.
Source: FAL Bulletin, April 2013
Reefer trade is a rapidly growing market in South America which has increased the demand for maritime refrigerated transport (or containerized transport) and led to structural changes in the industry. There has been impressive growth in the demand for reefer exports from the west and east coasts of South America since 1995, and today, they export 30% of the global reefer trade. The export volume for the two coasts is the same, but the export composition differs.
The export value for the east coast was 40% higher than that of the west coast due to its high share of meat exports. However, the export value for the west coast is expected to increase due to the recent recovery in exports of fish, a promising market with a high demand from Russia and the Far East.
In 2011, the value of reefer exports from the west coast increased to USD 17.7 billion. The west coast is the leading exporter of fruit, which accounts for 90% of the export volume and 85% of the reefer export value for the subregion.
In 2011, the east coast recorded the highest reefer export values in the region, amounting to USD 30 billion. Meat exports accounted for 63% (6.6 million tons) of the export value of perishable goods from the east coast and although 6.3 million tons of fruit were exported, this was equivalent to only 23% of the reefer value for the subregions.
The main export destination for both of the subregions is Northern Europe. Chile and Brazil, however, are the least dependent on this market. They have higher export shares in Asia and the Far East, regions which are becoming more important, because of the rapid growth of their populations and the increasing demand for perishable goods.
Container capacity supply:
The capacity of dry and reefer containers has increased considerably on all of the principal trade lanes from South America since 2000. The twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) capacity increased by 130% on average between 2000 and 2012, while the reefer capacity increased by 200% during the same period. The most significant increase in TEU capacity was by 220% on the trade lane between the west coast and Asia, while the strongest growth in reefer plugs was by 350% on the route between Asia and the east coast during the same period.
Source: FAL Bulletin, April 2013