For the first time since 2013, container volumes increased on routes from Europe to the east coast of South America, which has become a battleground between carriers following the recent consolidation and in particular Maersk Line's acquisition of Hamburg Süd.

On the other hand, growth in volumes from the east coast to Europe and thereby the reefer-heavy routes for Brazilian food exports to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean remain weak, shows data from South American analyst Datamar, according to Drewry.

Container volumes on the southbound routes from northern Europe and the Mediterranean to the South American east coast increased in 2017 by 12 percent, corresponding to 850,000 teu altogether.
This progress has continued into January this year with volume growth on routes from Northern Europe and the Mediterranean to the South American east coast coming in at 20 and 17 percent, respectively, relative to the same period the year before.

Less promising are the freight volumes on the reefer-oriented northbound routes from South America's east coast. For the first time since 2014, last year saw progress, but it was just 0.4 percent in 2017 to a total of 830,000 teu, even though the export of fruit to the Mediterranean was strong in the second half of the year.

The first month of this year shows a 2.5 percent decline on routes to Northern Europe, while growth on routes to the Mediterranean was far lower than the double-digit growth rates in volumes since June last year. Here, the increase in January was just six percent.

Source: Shipping Watch by OLE ANDERSEN