Recent Study: Argentina Shipping Report Q1 2014

From: Fast Market Research, Inc.
Published: Wed Dec 11 2013


BMI maintains its cautiously optimistic view on the Argentine port sector. The country enjoys a good commodities mix, but it continues to struggle with external headwinds, as well as internal difficulties in the form of rising inflation and labour unrest. We continue to expect that Argentine real GDP will grow 2.9% in 2014, having bottomed in 2013, at 1.8% growth. The 2014 acceleration is expected on the back of a rebound in private consumption and less of a drag from net exports.

Headline Industry Data

* Total tonnage volume at the Port of Buenos Aires is set to increase by 2.6% in 2014, to reach 11.03mn tonnes. Box handling at the port will rise by 4.2%, to 1.05mn twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
* The Port of Bahia Blanca will see 3% growth in volume, to 14.7mn tonnes in 2014. Box handling at the port will also grow by 3.7%, to 33,979 TEUs.

Full Report Details at
- http://www.fastmr.com/prod/723414_argentina_shipping_report_q1_2014.aspx?afid=301

Key Industry Trends

Rosario Thrives As Buenos Aires Struggles

BMI notes that while Buenos Aires port, the only Argentine port facility still under state control, struggles, the Rosario port complex in Santa Fe has been thriving under private management.

Buenos Aires Port Handles Largest Vessel

The port of Buenos Aires on July 25 2013 handled the largest vessel to call at the port, the Cap San Nicholas. The 9,700 twenty-foot equivalent units capacity vessel unloaded around 800 containers at the APM Terminals Terminal 4 facility.

Port Workers Strike Over High Taxes

BMI notes that Argentina's regular labour stoppages due to pay disputes show no sign of disappearing. Argentine unions for port workers, grain handlers and some shipping employees went on strike over demands that the government lower taxes.

Risks To Outlook

The key risks to our outlook are on the downside. We maintain our view that Argentina faces strong economic headwinds: soaring inflation, fiscal profligacy and growing government intervention, which means the Argentine economy will struggle to sustain its current growth trajectory, as investors become increasingly cautious of the economy.

A lack of investment in port infrastructure has resulted in frequent bottlenecks and delays at ports. Argentina has a weak financial system and relatively weak legal and regulatory frameworks. A high level of perceived corruption damages the appeal of doing business in the country, possibly acting as a deterrent to foreign port operators.

Strikes are frequent at Argentine ports, and these present further downside risks to our throughput forecasts. We caution that strikes could impact upon future growth at the country's ports should shipping companies become wary with regards to the market.

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Contact Name: Bill Thompson
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