Fast Market Research recommends "Chile Shipping Report Q2 2014" from Business Monitor International, now available

Boston, MA -- (SBWire) -- 04/10/2014 --Considerable investment in the expansion of Chile's ports confirms our positive outlook for its ports infrastructure and the wider construction industry. We also maintain our positive outlook for Chile's construction industry on the back of an investor-friendly business environment, political stability, and a strong pipeline of projects. Although we estimate a moderate slowdown in real growth for 2013 and 2014 to 4.7% and 5.6% respectively - compared to 8.1% in 2012 - this still represents a promising outlook. In addition, we expect the Chilean construction industry value to more than double in the next decade, reaching US$51.5bn by the end of our 10-year forecast period to 2023.

View Full Report Details and Table of Contents

However, we are revising down our 2014 real GDP growth forecast for Chile to 4.2%, from 4.6% previously, as the country's H1 2013 economic performance has reinforced our conviction that lower commodities prices and weakening external demand for industrial metals will weigh on Chile's economy over a multi-year timeframe. This slowdown in growth is attributable to decelerating economic activity in China, which over the next few years will result in weakening real demand for Chilean copper exports and reduced investment into the country's mining sector. This slowdown in demand will have a negative effect on Chile's port and shipping volumes.

Our Asia Country Risk team believes that the likelihood of a rapid and sustained economic downturn in China is rising, posing downside risks to our growth forecast for Chile. Indeed, if Chinese demand for copper, and thus subsequently copper prices, trend lower than we currently forecast, we could see real GDP growth in Chile head well below 4.0%.

This should have a negative knock-on effect on volumes at the country's ports. Further downside risk is presented by a series of strikes that took place in the Chilean ports sector in 2012 and in Q1 2013. Additional strike action could hit port throughput.

Headline Industry Data

- 2014 Port of Valparaiso tonnage throughput forecast to grow 1.7%.
- 2014 Port of San Antonio tonnage throughput forecast to grow 4.2%.
- 2014 Port of Valparaiso twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) throughput forecast to grow 2.5%.
- 2014 Port of San Antonio TEU throughput forecast to grow 5.6%.

Key Industry Trends

Port Infrastructure Investments Support Growth Forecast: A US$723mn investment at the port of Valparaiso includes the expansion of Terminal 1 (operated by TPS), the expansion of the South Access junction and construction works in progress in Terminal 2, which was awarded to OHL in April 2013. The investment will double the port's transfer capacity to reach 2mn TEUs per year, as explained by Valparaiso Port General Manager Harald Jaeger. With the capacity to handle two Post-Panamax vessels simultaneously, the extension will make Valparaiso the country's largest port.

About Fast Market Research
Fast Market Research is a leading distributor of market research and business information. Representing the world's top research publishers and analysts, we provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available. Our unbiased, expert staff is always available to help you find the right research to fit your requirements and your budget. For more information about these or related research reports, please visit our website at http://www.fastmr.com or call us at 1.800.844.8156.

Browse all Transportation research reports at Fast Market Research

You may also be interested in these related reports:

- Poland Shipping Report Q2 2014
- Iran Shipping Report Q2 2014
- Brazil Shipping Report Q2 2014
- Nigeria Shipping Report Q2 2014
- Vietnam Shipping Report Q2 2014
- Australia Shipping Report Q2 2014
- Oman Shipping Report Q2 2014
- Malaysia Shipping Report Q2 2014
- Egypt Shipping Report Q2 2014
- United Arab Emirates Shipping Report Q2 2014