A.P. Møller-Maersk's container arm, Maersk Container Industry (MCI), has announced the construction of a new factory in San Antonio, Chile, to produce reefer containers for Latin American exports.
The group has invested some US$170m in the factory, which will begin operating by the end of 2013 and could eventually reach an output of 40,000 reefer containers and 30,000 reefer machines annually.
'This is an investment in future world trade,' said MCI CEO Peter Nymand. 'We position our investment on the basis of future world trade flows, and we do so with solid support and cooperation from customers and authorities. This investment is a supplement to our important reefer factory in Qingdao, China, where we are also expanding.
MCI's new factory will create 1,800 jobs in and around San Antonio, and, the group noted, helps correct a reefer trade imbalance that 'disfavours exporters of fresh produce, fish and meat from western South America'.
According to MCI, tens of thousands of containers are shipped in empty from Asia and elsewhere each year, and after 2013 this shortage will be less acute as MCI starts its local supply of 'the most durable and energy efficient reefers currently on the market'.
'The new factory will produce Maersk's high-tech reefers in a part of the world where exporters have problems gaining access to reefers,' Nymand added.
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