Supply Chain Advantages for Brazilian-European Trade
After the successful participation in Intermodal South America in Sao Paulo (Brazil), the port of Antwerp in collaboration with the local industrial and agricultural federations organised a business seminar with networking in the nearby state of Minas Gerais.
The event was attended by 50 or so prominent Brazilians including shippers, ship's agents and logistics service providers. It was also honoured by the presence of high representatives from both federations, the government of Minas Gerais and the Belgian diplomatic corps in Brazil.
Minas Gerais is the second-largest industrial state and export region in Brazil, with a highly diversified economy. Leading exports include metal products, ores and minerals, coffee, meat, soya and to a certain extent also fruit. In the other direction Europe supplies this region mainly with machinery, chemicals, wine, chocolate and electronics.
At the event representatives from Antwerp emphasised the port's strengths including its innovative solutions for the various supply chains for these goods.
Particular attention was paid to Antwerp's advantages in terms of connectivity, geographical location, customs procedures and the services offered by the Port Authority's subsidiaries PAI (consultancy) and APEC (training). A local Brazilian logistics service provider testified to the advantages of the port of Antwerp for exporting project cargo from Europe to Brazil.