AEC has always been very active with shipments out of Argentina. The River Plate is the most active area with many terminals from a wide range of Shippers. Recently MV Pacific Calm loaded 36,160 mts of cargo from our friends Messrs ACA’s terminal in San Lorenzo.
MV Pacific Calm at the ACA Terminal
MV Pacific Calm
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As mentioned in our AEC News input December 2015 (‘Interesting times in South America’ – http://aecarriers.com/interesting-times-in-south-america/ ), also Brazil was overdue for changes.
On Sunday the 17th of April 2016 In Brasilia, a vast majority of Brazil’s lower house voted in favor of the impeachment of the current President Dilma Rousseff, less than two years after her reelection, deepening the country’s political crisis less than four months before the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The impeachment measure will now move to Brazil’s Senate, where only a simple majority is needed to force Rousseff to step down. Senators would have 180 days to conduct formal impeachment hearings before a final vote to determine her fate while Vice President Michel Temer, Rousseff’s former running mate and now rival, assumes temporary control.
AEC supports the needed changes in Brazil, but also recognize that the next period will be complicated for the country and might affect local business and exports. A general and profound clean-up is badly needed in the political system but likely not around the corner, unfortunately… However, that the people’s voices for changes and the cry for prosperity have been heard, is considered a welcome change.
The words ‘Ordem e Pregresso’ (Order and Progress) on the Brazilian flag often seem misplaced…
A total of about 34,000 mts of cement in big bags was loaded.
The bagged cement stowed in the fully box shaped holds.
AEC have successfully loaded vessels that have boxshaped holds and are ‘log fitted’ on deck with full cargoes of packed Timber. The cargoes in all the vessels cargo holds and on deck.
The fleet vessel MV AEC Ability II has loaded a full cargo of bulk wheat in Odessa, Ukraine for Rotterdam, Netherlands.
The fleet vessel, MV Lowland Brabo built in 2010 by Kanda, Japan with deadweight of 32,280 mts, loaded four grades of bulk fertilizer being Nitrobor, NPK, Can 21 and Amidas together two grades of NKP in big bags from Sluiskil, Netherlands and Heroya, Norway.
AEC has become more active in the Supramax market as well. 2016 started with four vessels in action from USG and the North Coast of South America.
‘We have become more active in the Supramax segment over the course of 2015’ says Chartering Manager Claas Grafe, who is in charge of the U.S. market for AEC.
He continues, ‘It is a natural development for us and a result of the building on our existing close cargo contacts and relationships. We know our core markets very well and can provide competitive and reliable services to our clients also in the Supramax segment.’
The bulk cargoes carried are anything from Grains to Coal and Petcoke.
AEC is very well connected in South America and the continent remains one the group’s most important trading areas.
South America is going through a historical phase of changes. It seems like various countries will sooner or later be ending a long period of left wing governments that have created extremely corrupt public sectors at the cost of the poor people and the countries growth potentials. Whereas the private industry, about two decades ago, started to clean up their act, the entry and the continuation of the left wing governments has unfortunately resulted in horrendous administrations where the focus has been on personal gains rather than growth and proper administration of the countries. The most eye catching countries have been Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela, who are currently all paying the price. Bolivia is of course also on the same ‘list’ but the country has limited influence on the world trade.
Last week Argentina swore in their new President and at least there is faith and hope in the Argentine people’s mind that things can only get better. The President has promised many changes and it remains to be seen whether he can deliver. However, an important step for the country’s exports has been the confirmation of the reductions, and in certain cases the removal, of the export taxes.
Brazil it currently in a very stressed political moment. A possible impeachment of the President is in the cards and it is possible that the ex-president will be prosecuted. Admittedly respectable President candidates currently seem scars but there is at least hope of charges to come.
In Venezuela the result of the recent election also indicated that there might be important changes in sight.
AEC embrace the current South American changes in progress, not necessarily from a politic point of view, but purely in the interest of the regions prosperity.
On Saturday, November 28th, 2015 AEC’s CEO along with a team of ten represented AEC at the Lyford Cay International School (LCIS) 13th Annual Fun Run!
Team AEC was the largest group supporter with 11 team members representing the Company but each individual also paid their entrance fee in support of the school.
The event began at 9AM with all members completing the 5-mile course.
The exciting event encouraged participants to walk, jog or run the course which took place around the beautiful Lyford Cay. It was more than just a healthy part of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, it was also a fun way to support the community school. Over 150 participants supported the annual event that was sponsored but by local companies and organized LCIS. Over $59,000.- was raised for the Annual Fund at Lyford Cay International School.
Team AEC is already in training for the 2016 Fun Run!
Indira Thompsen – Administration
