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Regional Focus

South America

Latin America ‘going

through many changes’

L
atin America in general has been hit which helps ships buying in Dollars. heavily on Panama Canal trafic and its

by economic recessions due to the The case is the same is in Chiletranshipment ports and Panama has a
decrease in the demand of goodswhere they have seen an increase in the dollarised economy thus it beneits from

and raw materials from China, according sale of local goods but in general they a stable currency.
to Vikash Deepak, President of the have had a stagnant growth period. Mr Vikash added: “The main thing in

Panamanian Association of Ship Suppliers Chile’s main exports of copper and Panama is how the new expanded Panama
and also Member of the ISSA Assembly.salmon have seen a reasonable drop due Canal will affect ship supplies. Panama

As well as devaluating currencies, to less demand from the Far East.Canal’s just in time transit policy will force
the drop in crude prices has affected Peru has experienced a very rough suppliers to be even more eficient with

heavily oil exporting countries such as year in regards to ship supplies as delivery times that are already short.”
Brazil, Venezuela and Ecuador. Ship companies are reporting more than a He added: “Latin America in general

Suppliers in Brazil have reported an 20% drop in sales, largely due to a slow is going through many changes, and time
increase in ship supply activity especially economy which in turn has hurt the will tell how the economies will bounce

in local manufactured goods as well as exports resulting in fewer vessel calls.back and how Latin America inds new

food due to the devaluated currencyPanama’s ship supply sector reliestrade partners.” u

12 The SHIP Supplier Issue 67 2015