Although port congestion continues to delay breakbulk and project cargo shipments to Brazil, recently passed legislation allowing public-private investment in ports promises to ease congestion in the future, according to Pietro Allevato, commercial director of Docenave, the shipping arm of Vale do Rio Doce.

Alevato on Monday told the 16th Annual Breakbulk Conference and Exhibition that the volume of cargo passing through Brazil's ports is growing so rapidly - 10 to 20 percent per year - that it will force companies using the ports to invest in them to improve facilities.

This in turn will spur demand for project cargo imports of construction equipment, pipes and rails needed to expand port infrastructure, he said.

Though the spur for port expansion comes from the impact of China's manufacturing boom, Alevato said it would in turn benefit U.S. suppliers of project equipment.

By Peter T. Leach