Direct South America option cuts transit times

THE IMPORT market from the US has perked up considerably over the past few months, thanks largely to the weaker dollar. “Two to three years ago everything was moving from the East and the US market was stagnating,” CFR Freight MD Martin Keck told FTW. “But that’s all changed and we’ve seen the market picking up significantly.” While New York will always be the main hub for imports and exports, CFR has expanded its service range adding direct weekly services out of Chicago and Charleston. “The US is one of the few markets in which we offer LCL and FCL services and rates,” said Keck, “due largely to our association with long-time agent Shipco Transport which has a strong presence in the market and volume contracts with several shipping lines.” CFR’s New York service provides direct sailings to all ports, including the likes of Port Elizabeth, while export cargo is consolidated in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town for New York, with the US west coast mostly served via Singapore.” The South American market – for imports and exports – is also on a growth trajectory with a direct service from Santos to Durban and Port Elizabeth and from Buenos Aires / Argentina to Cape Town. According to Keck, Brazil Customs does not allow LCL transhipments. “As soon as the cargo arrives in Brazil it’s confiscated.” CFR therefore tranships all South American cargo for Brazil, Chile and the entire subcontinent in Buenos Aires. “We have an edge in the South American export market due to the direct service option and shorter transit times,” says Keck, who believes CFR's strong agency ties and total neutrality are key competitive element