Chaos in Brazil`s logistics sectors that started with a truckers’ strike this year has spread to the shipping industry just as Latin America’s biggest economy should be enjoying an export boom, shippers said.
Exporters keen to capitalise on Brazil’s weakening currency and bumper harvests are booking shipping, but then having difficulty finding the trucks to deliver their goods to port on time because of an ongoing dispute with drivers over freight prices, according to Maersk Line, the world’s largest container shipping company.
Competition for limited shipping space combined with the uncertainty over truck freight prices is leading exporters to over-book shipping by as much as 200 per cent from 5 per cent normally, Maersk said, creating confusion at ports.
“What we see right now is the situation is completely out of control, and getting worse,” said Antonio Dominguez, Maersk Line managing director for east coast South America.
Read more on Financial Times.
