English 
Spanish 
3 min read
Values of maritime freight to Brazil had an exponential increase and shortage of containers is one of the main reasons
The shortage in the number of containers is one of the main reasons for the increase in the prices of freight import maritime to Brazil. According to data collected by Kestraa, a startup specializing in the management and monitoring of foreign trade cargo, the median sea freight from Asia, one of the main importers in Brazil, increased 363% between June 2020 and June this year, reaching the value of US $6,67 thousand.
The calculation was based on the median prices encompassing more than 12 cargoes transported by container between Brazil and other countries since 2020. At the time of the survey, the highest value found was recorded in February, when containers reached cost $10. However, the methodology does not include very expensive or very cheap transactions in relation to the average, in order to avoid distortions in the results.
In comparison, in the years 2020 and 2022, the median price of global maritime freight to Brazil stopped costing US$ 1,6 thousand in January 2020, reaching the value of S$ 2,6 thousand in January 2022, a 67% rise in price. The increase in sea freight prices began shortly before the start of the pandemic, in March 2020, worsening with the lockdown, which caused the closure of borders and businesses.
- Minas Gerais could revolutionize transportation with the resumption of passenger trains, aiming to popularize rail transportation and minimize overcrowding and accidents on highways
- Government will invest MORE than R$15 BILLION to ease traffic congestion in one of the most populated regions of the Brazilian state
- New train that will transport passengers between two states in the Southeast is confirmed by the federal government! Transportation promises to make life easier for thousands of people and also generate many jobs
- Large supermarket chain takes Brazil by surprise by announcing the closure of its operations in the country; see which one and what led to this decision!
“A large number of containers were withdrawn from the market for necessary restructuring during the lockdown period. However, even after the reopening, this number of containers remained reduced, increasing the demand for more routes and equipment, which contrasts with the reduction of offers, raising prices”, says Marcelo Matos, founding partner of Kestraa.
The difference in shipping prices maritime global and maritime freight from Asia is explained by the mode used to transport the cargo, which can be used by land modes, between countries in South America, and by sea and air, between countries further away. However, the increase in sea freight values for identical modes is due to high demand and low supply and also the shortage of containers.
Increase in sea freight prices mainly affects the primary sector
The aggregated primary sector is the one that is being hit the hardest by sea freight prices. As there are price-sensitive products in this sector and the impact is greater on the final bill, this sector is one of the most affected. Retail is also very affected, but not because of shipping, but because of the way of commerce, according to Matos.
Another sector greatly affected are the electronics companies, since they need components from several countries.
International maritime freight should only stabilize in mid-2023
With the average cost of a container on the global market rising, which is seven times more expensive than before the pandemic, reaching close to US$ 10 for several months, international ocean freight rates could remain high for a long time.
A survey carried out by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), showed that the effects of the international logistics crisis driven by Covid-19 in Brazil and on the main shipping routes in the world, caused the increase in the average cost of transporting a container in the global maritime market, which remained close to US$ 10 at various times in the first half of 2022, an amount that is seven times higher than that raised before the pandemic.
