Braskem to delve into transportation sector

Braskem, the largest petrochemical company in Latin America, is preparing to enter the business of maritime transportation. Back in June, it received authorization from the National Agency for Waterway Transportation (Antaq) to rent or operate ships for sea freight transport. In a press release sent to journalists on Monday, Braskem estimates it will save BRL […]

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Braskem, the largest petrochemical company in Latin America, is preparing to enter the business of maritime transportation. Back in June, it received authorization from the National Agency for Waterway Transportation (Antaq) to rent or operate ships for sea freight transport.

In a press release sent to journalists on Monday, Braskem estimates it will save BRL 10 million (USD 1.8 million) annually by operating its own ships.

Braskem previously used a ship with foreign crew, which had to leave Brazil every three months in order to renew the mandatory visa for foreign ships. 

Eduardo Ivo Cavalcanti, Braskem’s logistics manager, said in the statement that this increased costs. “Creating the maritime company changes this flow and makes our programming easier. Furthermore, it is something that makes us a player in Brazilian maritime transport and allows us to offer services to third-party companies,” he said.

The company added that it has the “ambition” of also building its own ships. “Increasing our logistical efficiency is a commercial advantage that we will gain, in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr. Cavalcanti said.

Braskem said its first cabotage operation — the transportation of goods between two places in the same country — will be between the states of Bahia and Rio de Janeiro, but did not specify a date.

Member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed to reduce the carbon intensity of international shipping (to reduce CO₂ emissions per transport work) by at least 40 percent on average by 2030. 

Earlier this year, the federally owned National Development Bank (BNDES) announced a plan for the so-called “blue economy,” which would include BRL 2 billion (USD 360 million) in credit for shipbuilding projects this year.

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