brf, Pomagri and Agrícola Famosa executives to share views on market outlook and challenges at first dedicated Latin perishables trade and logistics forum in Brazil this May
London and São Paulo, 26.03.2014 – José Perottoni, International Logistics Director of brf SA, one of the world’s largest exporters of poultry, beef and other perishable foods, has been announced as the keynote shipper speaker for the first Cool Logistics Americas forum. Convening on 14 -15 May in São Paulo, Brazil under the headline theme “Maximizing Latin America’s Perishables Potential”, the 2-day event will explore logistics priorities for the international trade in perishables across Central and South America.
Brazil has become one of the world’s top producers of poultry, beef and pork and is forecast to export a huge 6.25 million tonnes across these 3 protein commodities in 2014*. As one of the country’s largest protein and processed food companies, with a global presence in over 110 countries, brf ships around 100,000 FEU of refrigerated cargo every year.
Mr. Perottoni last addressed Cool Logistics at its 2012 Global forum in Antwerp, when he called for more flexibility, transparency and reliability in shipping services. Delegates in Brazil will have the chance to hear his views on the international reefer shipping landscape two years on. He will also address the effect of trade barriers on the efforts of regional producers to break into new markets.
While most noted as a protein powerhouse, Brazil is fast becoming a major player in global fruit production, including deciduous fruit such as apples and grapes – more traditionally associated with Chile – and of course melons. Cool Logistics Americas will also provide a platform for this community to air their needs.
Addressing the challenges facing fruit shippers in north-eastern Brazil will be Luiz Roberto Barcelos, founder of Agrícola Famosa, a major fruit exporter growing melons, watermelons, papaya, banana, asparagus and passion fruit on about 8,000 hectares. Shipping over 6,000 FEU per season, Agrícola Famosa has become an important supplier to Europe and has its eye on entering the Asian market when a widened Panama Canal will shave a third of transit times to key markets. Mr. Barcelos, who is also President of the Brazilian Melon Growers Association and the Brazilian Fresh Fruit Producers and Exporters Association, will be joined by Pierre Nicolas Perres, Director General of Pomagri and recently-appointed President of Brazil’s Association of Apple Producers. Pomagri has become a growing player in the world’s third largest fresh produce commodity – apples – and Mr. Perres will lend a perspective on Brazil’s fruit export industry from Pomagri’s operations in the country’s southern region.
Meat from Brazil is 100% containerised, according to Andrew Lorimer, Managing Director at trade analysts Datamar, but significant fresh produce commodities, including bananas from Ecuador, grapes from Chile and lemons from Argentina, continue to be shipped in conventional vessels. Mr Lorimer, who presented a comprehensive view of East Coast South America shipping trends at last year’s Cool Logistics Global conference in Rotterdam, will explore these in more detail at Cool Logistics Americas, providing an assessment of port and terminal handling facilities, as well as reefer container equipment availability.
Also recently confirmed to speak, Francisco Labarca, Executive Director of Chile-based Pacific Seaways, will add his perspective on perishables trade along South America’s West Coast, as the delicate balance between container and conventional operators continues to shift.
Mr Labarca is expected to argue that shippers will fight hard to retain as much maritime modal choice for as long as possible and will discuss ways that shippers and producers can increase exports through strategic partnerships. Pacific Seaways, owned by Chile’s fruit exporters, has recently joined forces with Seatrade, the world’s largest conventional reefer carrier, to form Global Reefers NV, providing specialised reefer vessel and container services from Chile, Peru and Colombia.
“We are proud to be able to present a variety of top-class shippers at our first Cool Logistics Americas Conference and provide a forum for much-needed independent exchange of views between perishable logistics service providers and their customers,” said Rachael White, Managing Director, Cool Logistics Resources. “The recent OECD-UNECLAC-CAF Latin American Economic Outlook 2014** report drives home the fact that logistics costs and deficiencies are hampering the region’s productivity and competitiveness. This must be addressed with urgency and Cool Logistics Americas will bring together the people who can effect practical change.”
* Source: USDA
** Latin American Economic Outlook Report 2014. Pub: Oct 2013. OECD-UN ECLAC-CAF. ISBN 978-92-64-20363-1 (print) ISBN 978-92-64-20364-8 (PDF)
Ends
Cool Logistics Americas
14-15 May 2014
Blue Tree Premium Faria Lima
São Paulo, Brazil
www.coollogisticsamericas.com
