Container throughput between South America and China continues to grow at record rates: over the past two decades, exports from the region have grown from 200,000 TEU to over 1 million TEU, while imports have risen from under 500,000 TEU to over 3 million TEU. Total trade volume has approached 4.5 million TEU, reflecting deepening economic ties, fueled by growing Chinese direct investment and expanding sectoral cooperation.
Chinese capital is shifting its focus from commodity projects to high-tech manufacturing—automotive, electronics, and green energy. This is driving demand for sophisticated multimodal solutions that can connect South America’s inland industrial sites with port infrastructure. The most illustrative example is Brazil, which accounts for 34% of Chinese investment in the region: despite a trade surplus with China, the country faces the logistical challenge of excess empty containers while simultaneously stimulating the development of its domestic industrial sector.
At the same time, the Brazilian automotive market is undergoing structural changes: Chinese brands, particularly in the electric vehicle segment, are actively expanding their presence and investing in local production. This is creating new demand for specialized logistics services for the transport of finished vehicles, especially EVs, which require special handling and transportation conditions.