Slowdown in foreign trade affects port activity in Latin America

The port activity was affected through the end of 2013 due to the slowdown of foreign trade in Latin America and the Caribbean. Last year there was an increase of 1.7%, according to the report of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

In the ECLAC ranking on the port movement, it was indicated that this figure confirms the decline in the activity on the ports of several countries in the region. In 2010 and 2011 the expansion corresponded to 14% annually and in 2012, to 5.9%.  

The decline in the activity over previous years was mainly determined by ports located in five countries: Colombia, Jamaica, Venezuela, Panama and Dominican Republic. Ecuador maintained its level of growth (3.9%).

The ECLAC said that the seaport of Guayaquil `Simon Bolivar´ mobilized 1’517 .910 containers in 2013, 69,223 more than in 2012. The maritime terminal was ninth in the ranking of cargo movement.