By Michele Labrut from Panama---Global container terminal
operator PSA International's head for Latin America Enno Koll
is confident that the region offers opportunities to port operators
now that the Panama Canal expansion inauguration is less than 10
months away.
The opening of the expanded canal, which will allow
containerships of up to 13,000 TEU to transit the waterway, is
planned for the second quarter of 2016.
"Increased consumption is likely to lead to more
transhipment and destination cargoes. We see certain countries on
the West Coast of Latin America still enjoying healthy GDP growth
and this has a positive knock on effect on container volumes,"
says Koll who has based in Panama since his arrival a year ago.
"Good economic growth which engenders higher disposable
incomes has also contributed to increased imports from Asia using
containers, which are often transhipped on the Pacific side of
Panama," he explains.
