News

October 03rd

Argentina's commercial ports Chamber informed last September 29th that they had invited six companies to offer their stowage services in Rosario port area, the country's main agro-export hub, after the government pushed the Union that concentrated the activity, to accept the rival firms.
The companies that will compete for the stowage services in the Puerto General San Martín and Timbúes, are: Murchison, Brayco, Milisenda, Port Side Maritime, Servicios y Asesoramiento Portuario SRL, and the Cooperative of the Stevedores Union, which, until few days ago, monopolized the activity in the area.
The bidding of the Private Commercial Ports Chamber (CPPC in spanish) comes after a government offensive by the President Mauricio Macri on big Unions to improve competitiveness, the Government forced the Cooperative of Port Work to decentralize its activity.
"Companies have until October 6th to present the envelopes (offers) and from there they will analyze the different cases. When all the offerings are on the table, companies will have the freedom to choose the provider they want", said Martin Brindici, general manager of the CPPC.
According to the CPPC that gathers the main agro-exporters companies such Cargill and Bunge, adding actors in the region would cause a drop in stowage rates up to 30%.
"By the end of October, companies may have already chosen those who want to work and, at the end of the year, they should already be commencing their operations", said Brindici, and pointed out that the contracts have not yet defined the term.
From the stevedore company Servicios y Asesoramiento Portuario SRL, they  confirmed the letter reception and its owner, Juan Garro, said that the invitation "is a very good opportunity".
The Buenos Aires Cereal Stock Exchange informed on September 27th that they expect the combined soybean and maize crops will add about 95 million tons in the 2017/2018 period, which will mostly be shipped in Rosario area's port complex.
We'll keep you closely posted.