The panorama of freight maritime in 2024 has been marked by important variations in the rates and logistics flows, posing both challenges and opportunities for actors in the sector. Dominican companies have faced specific difficulties due to these fluctuations.
In the first quarter of the year, transport a container 20 feet from Asia o Europe cost around $3,000, but by July, prices peaked at $8,100, an increase of 170%. Similarly, 40-foot containers rose from $3,400 to $8,950, for an increase of 163%, according to data from the company ET Heinsen.
On the subject, Ivan Garciapresident of the Federation Dominican of Merchants (FDC), explained to Diario Libre that this volatility generated advance purchasing decisions among the members of the FDC, who acquired merchandise with rates higher, a situation that has inflated their costs compared to current prices. Furthermore, this scenario has led to excess inventory with tight margins in the local market.
8,950Dollars was the rate at the end of July 2024 to bring a 40-foot container from Asia.
As the rates began to stabilize towards the end of the year, the Republic Dominican is experiencing a key moment in its consolidation as a logistics hub in the Caribbean. This favorable trend has been highlighted by actors such as the Association of Shipowners of the Republic Dominican (ANRD) and the Association Dominican of Exporters (Adoexpo), who agree that this adjustment in the rates represents an opportunity to boost the national economy.
According to the ANRDthe rates of freightwhich peaked in the third quarter of 2024, have returned to levels similar to those of the first quarter. This stabilization responds to several factors: overcoming global and regional impacts: factors such as the pandemic, the war in the Red Sea and restrictions due to the low flow of the Panama Canal have begun to be resolved, favoring the normalization of supply chains. global.
Stability
Stability on key routes: routes to States Joinedthe country’s main trading partner, have remained relatively stable, contributing to strengthening confidence in the trade bilateral.
“From the sector we have observed a recent favorable trend in terms of rates of freightboth from and to Republic Dominican. According to the Drewry World Container Index, the freight “They reached their peak in the 3rd quarter of 2024 and are currently at the same levels as the 1st quarter of the year,” he indicated. ANRD.
Both associations agree that the positive trend in maritime transport costs can strengthen the country’s position in the trade international. In addition, they highlight the importance of collaboration between the private sector, authorities and strategic allies to maximize the impact of these favorable conditions on the national economy.
A cable from the EFE news agency details that the Panama Canal, one of the nerve centers of global and regional maritime trade, transported 423 million tons in 2024 and projects an increase to 520 million tons in 2025. This strategic corridor connects more than 1,900 ports in 170 countries, serving key routes such as Asia-USA. East Coast and Europe-South America. Globally, maritime trade reached a total volume of 12,292 million tons in 2023, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad). This growth demonstrates the resilience of maritime trade, despite recent disruptions.
