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Source: American Association of Port Authorities, CEPAL.

Container Ports of the Americas, 2010

The maritime system of the Americas is composed of six major maritime ranges, each with its distinct freight distribution system and logistics:

• East, West and Gulf Coasts of North America. This sub-system has three coasts (Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf) but they are integrated through long distance rail corridors (landbridges). They account for about 57% of the TEUs handled by the Americas. Most of the gateways are within port clusters such as Los Angeles / Long Beach, Vancouver / Seattle - Tacoma, Charleston / Savannah or New York / Hampton Roads. These clusters provide importers and exporters with options and act as logistics platforms for continental freight distribution. While hinterland access is dependent on port proximity, the efficiency and capacity of rail transportation (e.g. double-stacking) provide higher levels of hinterland accessibility. With the setting of NAFTA and the integration of its rail system (e.g. the acquisition by KCS of a rail corridor between Kansas City and Lazaro Cardenas), Mexico is increasingly considered as integrated with North American West and Gulf Coasts.
• Caribbean. This sub-system has small hinterlands, implying limited growth potential, with a few exceptions (e.g. Cuba, Venezuela and Columbia), with about 21% of the TEUs handled by the Americas. The nature and extent of the traffic is related to the economic activities of each island. The main growth driver is transshipment with the Panama Canal a fundamental driver of this business.
• East and West Coasts of South America. This sub-system has two coasts that are not integrated because of the difficulties to service the hinterland. It accounts for about 22% of the TEUs handled by the Americas. Inland rail connections tend to be poor or non-existent and when they are present they are simply penetration lines linking a gateway and a few inland load centers. Each coast is a completely different market and more than often each port is able to assert dominance over its hinterland since competition tends to be limited. Most ports are not directly connected to deepsea shipping lines but through coastal services to main transshipment hubs such as Santos, Buenos Aires or Callao.

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