Paranaguá looks to expand trade with China

To stimulate new business, a committee led by the Chinese Consul-General in São Paulo, Sun Rongmao, and Trade Consul Lu Yuzhong visited the Port of Paranaguá in late January, to familiarise themselves with the port’s facilities for handling soy. In 2007 alone, exports of soy to China generated US$422.8m in foreign exchange for the state of Paraná.

The committee was welcomed by the manager of Appa (Administration of the Ports of Paranaguá and Antonina), Eduardo Requião, who told the Consul-General in São Paulo of Paraná and Paranaguá’s interest in maintaining and extending trade between the two countries. “We have trade that can be multiplied. We can set up dedicated shipping lines, bringing more profit and efficiency to operations,” said Requião.

In addition to heading exports, the Chinese market is also the biggest supplier of merchandise coming into Paranaguá, with a 12% share. The main items of imported cargo are machinery and parts, fertilisers and chemical products.