News / Rhenus aims to ease Brazilian services with takeover of local broker Pirâmide SeaAir

Germany’s Rhenus Group has completed the takeover of Brazilian customs broker Pirâmide SeaAir Comércio Exterior.

São Paulo-headquartered Pirâmide SeaAir, with branches at Guarulhos and Viracopos airports and the port of Santos, has been operating as a clearance broker in a country notorious for its highly complex customs regulations for over 20 years.

Rhenus said the deal was motivated by a desire to improve its freight forwarding operations in the country, which Pirâmide SeaAir’s in-house-developed software would help.

Jörn Schmersahl, chief executive of Rhenus Air & Ocean Europe & Americas (pictured above), said: “Customs clearance for imports is a major focus of operations in Brazil.

“It often determines whether goods are handled smoothly in conjunction with the public authorities or not. As a result of the customs clearance expertise available at Pirâmide SeaAir, we’ll be able to offer our customers here special time benefits and added value.”

The company will operate in the marketplace as Rhenus-Piramide and the first shipments through the European LCL gateway of Hilden have already  started.

Mr Schmersahl added: “Brazil is a growth engine and generates about half the economic power in South America. We’re sure that Brazil will not only be important for exporting investment and consumer goods in future, but also become increasingly significant as a production site and regional centre.”