Maltese importers and exporters are set to benefit from new trading opportunities to Brazil and Argentina following the introduction of a rapid weekly link by Malta Freeport Terminals.
The Sirius Service, calling at six key ports in Brazil (Itajai, Itapoa, Itaguai, Rio Grande, Salvador and Santos) as well as Buenos Aires in Argentina, will utilise eight vessels operated by container ship giants CMA CGM, Maersk Line and Hamburg Sud.
The first ship to operate on the Malta leg of this service, CMA CGM Magdalena, called at the Freeport yesterday while live refrigerated containers, carrying mostly frozen cargo, will be available from early December.
Malta Freeport CEO Alex Montebello said: “Food importers stand to gain enormously from the Sirius Service since vessels calling at the Freeport will offer considerable capacity for refrigerated containers.
“We are investing heavily to increase the number of refrigerated container slots available at our terminals to 1,800 in view of the higher volume we expect to handle, which, together with the new service, will provide new trading opportunities for the Maltese.”
The Sirius Service further strengthens links to the South American continent from the Freeport, which already provides weekly services to Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
The Freeport has significantly improved business opportunities for its clients in recent years, providing them with network links to 127 ports worldwide. Sixty of these are in the Mediterranean.
During the summer months, the company also added the Indamed Service, a new weekly service linking major ports in India, Pakistan, Eastern Mediterranean and the Arabian Gulf. This service is operated by CMA CGM, APL and COSCO Shipping.
In August, it also received the 399-metre-long Munich Maersk – one of the world’s largest container vessels and the biggest ever to visit Malta – which called at the Freeport on its maiden voyage.
Last year alone, the Freeport handled over three million containers and is continuously investing in new equipment and technologies in its drive to serve as a leading strategic platform for global shipping lines.