Impact of the increase in international freight costs for Colombian
importers between 2019 and 2021
..........................................
Impacto del incremento de los costos de fletes internacionales para importadores
colombianos entre los años 2019 a 2021
Campo Elías López-Rodríguez
1
Iván Guillermo Ortega-Diéz
2
Diana María Bejarano Guzmán
3
Ángela María Cardona Ramírez
4
ABSTRACT
The main objective of this article is to
determine the impact of the increase in
international freight costs for Colombian
importers between 2019 and 2021. In order to
answer this question, the research carried out
was based on a qualitative descriptive study,
based on a documentary review analysis; This
process began through the conceptualization
of the most relevant terms used in
international maritime transport, then it was
inquired about the factors that influenced the
increase in international freight costs, there it
was shown that the shortage of TEUs and the
lack of operators to meet the demand in ports,
are the main factors that triggered the increase
in this item, it should be noted that the second
factor was exacerbated as a result of the
pandemic. From the results obtained, it is
concluded that the impact generated by this
cost overrun is negative for importers, the
result was a decrease in the volume of imports
arriving by sea, this being the means of
Received: January 11, 2023
Approved: May 29, 2023
...........................................
1. PhD student in Consumer Psychology. Research
Leader of the Specialization in Financial
Management at Corporación Universitaria Minuto
de Dios - UNIMINUTO. Contact email:
clopezr3@uniminuto.edu.co Orcid:
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4061-2979
2. Master in Organizational Management.
Research Professor at the School of International
Business, Universidad Santo Tomás de Aquino,
Bogotá, Colombia. Contact e-mail:
ivanortegad@usantotomas.edu.co Orcid:
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9826-4885
3. Professional in International Trade from ECCI
University. E-mail:
dianam.bejaranog@ecci.edu.co ORCID:
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4331-5788
4. Professional in International Trade from ECCI
University. E-mail:
angelam.ramirezc@ecci.edu.co ORCID:
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5496-4564
Impact of the increase in international freight costs for Colombian importers between 2019 and 2021.
Vol 3 - No 2 July - December e-ISSN 2745-1194 Pages 99-119
100
transport responsible for mobilizing about
90% of the cargo traded worldwide, this
negative variation directly influences the
economy of each country and is reflected in its
balance of trade. It is possible to identify the
monopolistic role played by shipping
companies, being the owners of containers and
vessels, who use the contingency to take an
advantageous position and oversell the
reserves or exponentially increase the price of
these.
Keywords: Costs, international freights,
imports
RESUMEN
Este artículo tiene como principal objetivo
determinar el impacto del incremento de los
costos de fletes internacionales para
importadores colombianos entre los años 2019
a 2021, para responder a este interrogante la
investigación realizada se ejecutó a partir de un
descriptivo de tipo cualitativo, basado en un
análisis de revisión documental; este proceso
comenzó a través de la conceptualización de los
términos más relevantes utilizados en el
transporte internacional marítimo,
posteriormente se indagó acerca de cuáles eran
los factores que incidían en el aumento de los
costos de los fletes internacionales, allí se
evidenció que la escasez de TEUS y la falta de
operarios que cubran la demanda en los
puertos, son los principales factores que
desataron el incremento en este rubro, cabe
resaltar que el segundo factor se agudizó como
consecuencia de la pandemia. Desde los
resultados obtenidos se concluye
Impact of the increase in international freight costs for Colombian importers between 2019 and 2021.
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101
principalmente que el impacto generado por
este sobrecosto es negativo para los
importadores, el resultado fue una diminución
en el volumen de importaciones que llegan vía
marítima, siendo este el medio de transporte
responsable de movilizar alrededor del 90% de
la carga que se comercializa mundialmente,
esta variación negativa influye directamente en
la economía de cada país y se ve reflejado en su
balanza comercial. Se logra identificar el papel
monopolístico que juegan las navieras siendo
las propietarias de contenedores y motonaves,
quienes utilizan la contingencia para tomar
una posición de ventaja y sobrevender las
reservas o aumentar exponencialmente el
precio de estas.
Palabras clave: Costos, fletes
internacionales, importaciones
Introduction
Maritime transport has created in international trade safety, efficiency and economy,
compared to other means of transport used for the exchange of goods between
different countries effectively, as noted by the former secretary general of the IMO
(International Maritime Organization) the vast network of ports, container ships and
trucking companies moving goods around the world is in crisis and the cost of shipping
is increasing (Sanchez Polanco et al., 2023). Shipping companies expect the global
transportation crisis to continue, this greatly increases the cost of moving cargo and
could increase upward pressure on the prices of imported goods meaning that buyers
are likely to face higher prices (Améstica, 2019).
Maritime transport is the main modality of foreign trade, 90% of the merchandise is
transported by sea, and in Colombia there are approximately 184 companies that
provide this service distributed in different areas of the country, have been decreasing
foreign trade operations since 2019 (Analdex, 2021). According to information from
ANDI (2020) Colombian imports in figures recorded in electronic declarations,
increased by 18.0% in CIF terms, going from US$ 1,818 million to US$ 2,145 million
Impact of the increase in international freight costs for Colombian importers between 2019 and 2021.
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and in FOB value 17.9% going from US$ 1,740 million to US$ 2,051 million. The net
imported weight presented an increase of 19.9%, going from 1,208 million kilos in
2018 to 1,448 million kilos in 2019 (ANDI, 2020). On the other hand, figures recorded
in electronic declarations, Colombian imports increased in CIF terms 33.5%, going
from US$ 2,837 million to US$ 3,788 million and in FOB value 31.1% going from US$
2,683 million to US$ 3,517 million, and the net imported weight presented an increase
of 9.8%, going from 2,108 million kilos in 2020 to 2,314 million kilos in 2021 (ANDI,
2020). According to Figure 2, 91.6% of the imported CIF value entered through five
sectional directorates, as follows: Bogota Customs (25.9%), Cartagena Customs
(25.2%), Buenaventura Tax and Customs (23.3%), Santa Marta Tax and Customs
(8.8%) and Barranquilla Customs (8.4%) (ANDI, 2020).
The world's largest container shipping line AP Moller- Maersk A/ S, will earn about
$4.5 billion in operating profit in 2021, according to estimates earlier this year from
financial analysts who follow the companies. Their estimates have been wrong (ANDI,
2020). China's foreign trade could face a more complicated situation next year given
the base effects and the reversal of positive factors associated with the global COVID-
19 pandemic (Quevedo-Barros et al., 2020).
The container shipping sector has gone through a difficult stage in recent years, due to
the persistent market imbalance between trade and fleet supply capacity, intensified
by the incorporation of mega-vessels, increased trade tensions, greater protectionism
and changes in environmental regulations (Vargas et al., 2022). These factors have
increased the volatility of freight rates and transportation costs in 2018-2019, a
circumstance that was maintained in 2020 and so far in 2021 (Analdex, 2021). It is no
secret that currently maritime freight costs have increased exponentially, which has
had a significant impact on importers, since the number of operations is being reduced
and some are currently analyzing new transportation alternatives such as air
transport, however it is not unknown that the capacity of the maritime fleet compared
to the air fleet has no point of comparison; additionally, air transport is a service with
much higher costs than maritime transport.
Taking into consideration the information gathered and the importance of the
exchange of goods for the country's development, the following question arises: What
is the impact of the increase in international freight costs for Colombian importers
between 2019 and 2021? In order to answer this question, it is necessary to
conceptually describe the international transportation of goods and its importance in
imports, identify the factors that affect the increase in international freight rates and
Impact of the increase in international freight costs for Colombian importers between 2019 and 2021.
Vol 3 - No 2 July - December e-ISSN 2745-1194 Pages 99-119
103
determine whether the impact of the increase in these items has been positive or
negative for Colombian importers.
Supply chain management is defined as the systematic and strategic coordination of
the traditional functions within companies (Celis & García, 2012), which Argueta et al,
(2014) affirm that international transportation is one of the most fundamental links
within the supply chain since they contribute in a significant way in the logistics costs
of goods, being so that in 1966 the company United States Lines, put into service the
first container ship between the USA and Northern Europe, arriving at the port
Rotterdam being the first transatlantic container ship (Olmedo & Gil, 2021).
Therefore, the main objective of managing the supply chain is to synchronize with the
customer the logistics of the goods from origin to reduce costs and increase service
(Celis & García 2012).
Torres & Rendón (2013) consider economic integration as the opening and
commercial revolution that leads to growth in foreign trade processes between
countries, which generates competitiveness and growth. The foreign trade policy of
each nation within its strategies oversees the behavior of the administration in the
customs system to enforce customs regulations (Torres & Chávez 2015). Argueta et al.,
(2015) consider that within the value chain, determining the packaging of a primary,
secondary and tertiary product allows improving the competitive advantages of a good
in a market.
Other links in the supply chain are essential, such as timely production, the amount of
inventory and the use of technologies that allow tracking their international cargo
(Rodriguez et al., 2021). However, Acuña (2016) adds that permanent innovation
activities and human capital are the main factors that determine the competitive
advantages of advanced industrial economies, in international transportation it is not
only limited to one transport, it can be found combination of several modes of
transport (Multimodal) offering reliability advantages in shipping of different
characteristics (López-Rodríguez et al., 2021). Becerril-Torres et al., (2021) indicate
that containers or TEUs are units that are used in the value chain for the transfer of
LCL / FCL goods from one place to another and according to the type of goods it is
determined whether they are general cargo, three-dimensional or IMO.
Argueta et al, (2014) state that for companies that use the transportation of goods it is
essential to have efficient, economic and safe logistics for the transfer of their
production to final consumers, hence the implementation of management and security
systems since the attacks of September 11, 2011 with the concepts of security and safety
in international logistics (Torres & Chávez, 2015) it is worth noting that the
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participation in the balance of payments of international transport services of each
country is an item that has a high participation (Torres, & Rendón 2013).
According to Herrera (2014), the increasing global economic openness implies a
reconfiguration of the supply chain, which must guarantee safe trade from production
to transportation of goods and is influenced by the costs that may affect its
performance. Rodríguez et al., (2022) indicate that the cost system should serve as a
support and primary source of information when making decisions at different
organizational levels and in the transportation-logistics sector it is fundamental in the
development of the domestic economy and in international trade, it requires to be
more competitive and productive at the level of procedures and infrastructure (Amaya,
2014).
For Gómez et al., (2013) productivity indicators are evaluated in relation to the
production factor determined, they can be many in different areas, but the most
relevant are labor, use of materials and capital, therefore, quality management systems
such as ISO-9001 are used in the transportation sector involving all companies that
can be imagined in the international logistics chain from origin to destination (Amaya,
2014). According to Herrera (2014) the objective of management systems is to provide
companies with tools to safeguard their processes and products from agents or
situations that generate nonconformities or detract from their integrity.
From the point of view of Acuña (2016) the competitiveness of a nation and therefore
its industrial and economic fabric, depends on the ability to innovate and improve a
clear example of innovation and development are the trade blocs that allowed the
implementation of technology, incursion and contribution of private capital for the
commercial opening, improving the terminals of the different ports (Torres & Rendón,
2013). In the case of multimodal transport, importers can move their goods to the
interior of the countries reducing port costs and generating efficiency in customs
processes (López Rodríguez et al., 2018). Jones et al. (2016) state that companies that
adopt ICTs and e-commerce reduce transaction costs, increase the speed of their
requirements and therefore have more organized and efficient processes and
operations.
The cost system documents, analyzes and reports the financial health of the company,
determines how the integration of resources has an impact on the management of the
value chain (Argueta & Salazar, 2015). For Jones et al., (2016) a better interaction with
customers, partners and suppliers the internet and e-commerce are key tools, there
you get better information of products and services of the company. Gómez et al.
(2013) propose that productivity establishes the result of a production system, which
Impact of the increase in international freight costs for Colombian importers between 2019 and 2021.
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105
is determined by the relationship between its outputs and inputs and by the value
added.
Torres, & Chávez (2015) state that an efficient administration contemplates variables
such as costs, number of employees, revenues collected, volume of declarations,
number of offers and measures the level of competitiveness. An example of production
philosophy is lean manufacturing which had its origins in Japan with the Toyota
system, whose objectives are to reduce inventories and create value (Celis & García,
2012). According to the theory of dynamic capabilities, e-commerce generates value in
companies, if there is a capacity for technological absorption, there is a capacity for
integration of companies (Jones et al., 2016).
Materials and methods
The scope of the research was descriptive in nature, which, according to Hernández et
al., (2014) seeks to specify properties, characteristics and important features of any
phenomenon being analyzed, giving the possibility of making predictions, even if they
are incipient. Therefore, this type of research is related according to the current
juncture of international maritime transport that affects the processes of Foreign
Trade at the international level for importers and exporters. These types of study are
characterized by having qualitative approach, which as mentioned by Fernandez
(2016) does not quantify, measure, or count something, neither does it follow a clearly
defined process, its objective is the collection of data that leads to obtain the
perspectives and points of view of the participants. According to Poveda et al. (2019),
it guarantees the fulfillment of science technology that marks the assigned approach.
Documentary review, which allows having an idea of the development and
characteristics of the processes, as well as the availability of information such as
reports, images, videos, academic books, scientific articles, among others. The
documentary review is a bridge to achieve the objective of the article, which is to
determine the reasons for the impact of the increase in international freight costs for
Colombian importers between 2019 and 2021 proposed in the research process. The
documentary review consolidates information from different theoretical sources and
various authors, which allows the development of a research based on philosophical
and analytical foundations (Ramos, 2015).
The information analysis process will begin with the collection of information through
academic databases by means of computer tools, with these inputs we will proceed to
prepare comparative tables and infographics that allow the understanding of the
Impact of the increase in international freight costs for Colombian importers between 2019 and 2021.
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106
information obtained in an easy and dynamic way, with this we also intend to respond
to the hypotheses raised throughout the research.
Results
Having different means of transportation available, leads to identify the most suitable
option to not increase costs, which is why ocean freight is considered the most
economical, being the means of transport responsible for moving about 90% of the
cargo traded in import and export operations in the world. As shown in Table 1, the
ranking of the 10 countries in the region is compiled and according to the latest report
on the behavior of container movement published on June 10, 2020 by ECLAC, in
Latin America and the Caribbean, during 2019, 54.2 million TEUs were mobilized,
representing 6.5% of the total world container movement, showing a slight decrease
in the variation in relation to the previous year (ANDI, 2020). The country in the
region with the highest total container movement is Brazil with 10,396,182 TEU,
Colombia on the other hand ranks number 5 with 4,402,574 TEU mobilized. Finally,
in 2019 the Caribbean (including the Caribbean coast of Colombia, recorded a growth
of 2.3% in total container movement, while Central America had a drop of -7%.
Table 1. Top 10 countries of the region in 2019 (TEU)
Rank
Country
Throghput 2019(TEU)
1
Brazil
10.396.182
2
Panama
7.347.000
3
Mexico
7.100.644
4
Chile
4.496.578
5
Colombia
4.402.574
6
Peru
2.678.258
7
Ecuador
2.127.042
8
Dominican Republic
1.894.225
9
Argentina
1.771.628
10
Jamaica
1.647.609
Source: Own elaboration based on ANDI (2020).
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Due to the amount of TEUs that circulate, it is important to determine the factors that
affect the increase in international freight costs. Table 2 shows comparatively the
reason for the delays at the ports, which causes a shortage of units for export and
import processes and therefore causes costs to rise irrationally, where logistics plays a
major role, starting with the port infrastructure and internal transportation in each
country.
Table 2. Container crisis comparison table
Normal situation
1. Ships bring containers to the port
2. Containers are checked and
unloaded.
3. Trucks wait at the port to load the
merchandise
4. Empty containers return to the
ships to free up space at the port.
5. Trucks deliver goods to the
distribution centers
Source: Own elaboration.
The scarcity of units is a logistic phenomenon that has not been seen so aggressively,
Table 3 identifies the most relevant shipping lines in foreign trade operations in the
world for the year 2021. Most of the major shipping lines are the result of a merger or
alliance between other lines that monopolize the market and establish almost exactly
the freight costs between them. In the Colombian market, CMA CGM is one of the
shipping lines with the highest representation mainly for imports from China, due to
its low costs, however, for CIF negotiations it is one of the shipping lines with higher
documentary requirements and whose response times are higher.
Impact of the increase in international freight costs for Colombian importers between 2019 and 2021.
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Table 3. World's largest shipping lines in 2021
Shipping
Country
Remarks
APM Maersk
Copenhagen,
Denmark
It controls 19% of maritime trade and is the
second largest carrier in the Far East-North
America trade corridor, with 15% of the
market.
Mediterranean
Shipping Company
(MSC)
Geneva
(Switzerland)
It operates more than 459 vessels and has a
transport capacity of 2,308,000 TEU. It is
present in 155 countries and was founded in
1970.
China Ocean
Shipping (Group)
Company (COSCO)
People's
Republic of
China.
It had to merge with China Shipping Group in
February 2016 and acquired Orient Overseas
Container Line (OOCL) in July 2018.
CMA CGM Group
France
Created by the merger between Compagnie
Maritime d'Affrètement (CMA) and
Compagnie Générale Maritime (CGM). It has
a capacity to transport 2.6 million TEUs,
which represents about 11.4% of the market.
Ocean Network
Express (ONE)
Japanese
It is the merger of three major Japanese
shipping lines (Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Mitsui
O.S.K. Lines and K Line).
Hapag-Lloyd
German
With 248 modern ships and 12 million TEU
transported annually, Hapag ranks among the
top in this ranking. The shipping company is
also the result of a merger between
Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-
Gesellschaft (HAPAG) and Norddeutscher
Lloyd (NDL).
Evegreen Marine
Taiwan
It covers the main trade routes are the Far
East to North America, Central America and
the Caribbean.
Source: Own elaboration based on Marino (2021).
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Table 4 provides the tons mobilized by type of port traffic where it can be determined
that of the three zones there are, the one that generates greater movement is the
Caribbean Region with a percentage of participation above 85% of the cargo mobilized
in the years 2018, 2019 and 2020; within this the 2 port zones with the highest
participation are Ciénaga for the years 2018 with 22.9% and 2019 with 24.2%, and
Cartagena for 2020 with 26.6% (ANDI, 2020).... This indicates that in Colombia most
imports and exports are mobilized through these ports. On the other hand, the
Magdalena River area is the one that generates the least movement, since in the period
from 2018 to 2020 its percentage of participation ranges between 1.1% and 1.2%
(ANDI, 2020).
Table 4. Tons mobilized by type of port traffic January-December (2018-2020).
Port Zone
Jan -
Mar2018
Jan - Mar
2019
Jan - Mar
2020
Variat
ion
(2018-
2019)
Variat
ion
(2018-
2019)
TEU
S
*Part
(%)
TEUS
*Pa
rt
(%)
TEU
S
*Pa
rt
(%)
Barranquilla
37.69
4
3.8
40.842
3.8
38.57
2
4.6
8,4
-5,6
Buenaventu
ra
324.4
64
33.0
328.37
8
30.8
259.1
49
31.2
1,2
-21,1
Cartagena
569.2
38
57.8
640.01
5
60.0
513.0
99
61.8
12,4
-19,8
Guajira
509
0.1
877
0.1
322
0.0
72,3
-63.3
San Andres
4.232
0.4
4720
0.4
4799
0.6
11,5
1,7
Santa
Martha
27.66
7
2.8
31.278
2.9
-
-
13,1
-
Turbo
20.35
8
2.1
20.529
1.9
14981
1.8
0,8
-27,0
Total TEUS
Units
984.1
62
100
1.066.6
39
100
830.9
22
100
8,4
-22,1
Source: Own elaboration based on ANDI (2020).
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As shown in Table 5, the main countries of origin of Colombian imports are China, the
United States, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and finally the rest of the world, in terms of
CIF and FOB value, China is the country with the highest representation within this
group individually, taking into account that the association of the rest of the countries
of the world is the one with the highest participation in both aspects globally (DIAN,
2022). Additionally, it can be observed that importers are opting to buy their goods at
the port of destination CIF term since suppliers at origin can have more optimal rates,
however, they are unaware of the terms at destination that sometimes become more
expensive when settling an import.
Table 5. Main countries of origin of Colombian imports figures in millions of dollars
and millions of kilograms July 1 to 24 of 2021
Country of
origin
CIF
value
Part
CIF
value
FOB Value
Part
FOB
Value
Gross
Weight
Part
Net
weight
China
954
25.5%
852
24.2%
330
14.3%
United States
753
19.9%
721
20.5%
557
24.1%
Mexico
233
6.2%
225
6.4%
66
2.9%
Brazil
191
5.0%
178
5.1%
117
5.1%
Argentina
166
4.4%
148
4.2%
355
15.4%
Rest of the
world
1491
39.3
1.394
39.6%
889
38.4%
Total
imported
3.788
100.0
%
3.517
100.00%
2.314
100.0%
Source: Own elaboration based on DIAN (2022).
Impact of the increase in international freight costs for Colombian importers between 2019 and 2021.
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111
1.1. Impact of the increase in the cost of international freight rates on
Colombian importers
Table 6 shows that there is a variation in imports ranging from -0.47% to -44.97%
where the sector that was most affected was fuels and production of extractive
industries, which for the year 2019 had imports of 5,356,478 (thousands of dollars)
and for the year 2020 imports were only 2,947,471 (thousands of dollars) i.e. 44.97%
less than the previous year (Analdex, 2021). In general terms, the difference in the
value of imports between 2019 and 2020 was -17.48% which represented in thousands
of dollars is equivalent to 9,213,962. This decrease in imports is due to the increase in
international freight that occurred as a result of the pandemic, where it has been
shown that these items have increased by 300% (Analdex, 2021).
Table 6. Imports from January to December 2019 to 2020 (in thousands of dollars)
Sector
Year
2019
Year
2020
Variation
(%)
Manufacturing
40.270.45
2
33.503.96
3
-16,80
Agriculture, food and beverages
7.006.330
6.972.846
-0,47
Fuels and products from extractive
industries
5.356.478
2.947.471
-44,97
Other sectors
69.365
64.382
-7,18
Total
52.702.6
24
43.488.6
62
-17,48
Source: Own elaboration based on Analdex (2021).
Table 7 shows that there are 6 main countries from which Colombia imports, heading
the list with the highest representation is the United States followed by China, Mexico,
Brazil, Argentina and finally ending the list is Germany. In general terms there was a
negative variation between imports in 2020 with respect to 2019 where it is evident
that the country with the greatest negative impact was Argentina with -28.1% and the
country with the least negative impact was China with -5.2%, however in thousands of
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dollars the greatest difference was presented by the USA with -2,737,083 (Analdex,
2021).
Table 7. Imports by country of origin years 2019 to 2020 (expressed in thousands
of dollars)
Country
Year 2019
Year 2020
Variation (%)
USA
13.276.840
10.539.757
-20,6%
China
10.966.762
10.398.882
-5,2%
Mexico
3.879.622
2.925.827
-24,6%
Brazil
3.173.994
2.435.489
-23,3%
Argentina
1.007.091
724.462
-28,1%
Germany
2.172.661
1.643.891
-24,3%
Source: Own elaboration based on Analdex (2021).
Table 8 shows the values in millions of dollars of imports for the first half of the years
2021 and 2021 respectively, there is evidence that for the months of January and
February of 2021 imports had a negative variation compared to 2020, this is explained
by the fact that the ravages generated by the pandemic began to be seen from March
2020, it is for this reason that in the months of March, April, May and June of 2021
there is a positive variation compared to the previous year; taking into account that for
these months in 2020 this phenomenon was in all its splendor and the consequences
at an economic level around the world were reflected in a recession in all sectors,
strongly affecting international trade and therefore imports and exports.
Table 8. Imports in millions of dollars from January to June 2020 and 2021
Period
Year 2020
Year 2021
Variation (%)
January
3.498
2.918
-16.6%
February
3.214
2.748
-14,5%
March
2.740
3.364
22.8%
April
3.080
3.199
3.9%
Impact of the increase in international freight costs for Colombian importers between 2019 and 2021.
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113
May
2.706
2.768
2.3%
June
2.266
3.011
32.9%
Consolidated
17.504
18.009
2.9%
Source: Own elaboration based on DIAN (2022).
Conclusions
The development of this research allowed knowing the effect of the increase in
maritime freight costs is the so-called "container crisis", i.e., an unusual shortage of
available space to transport products, affecting importers in the costs of transporting
goods FCL and LCL which is reflected in the liquidation of their imports; within the
literature reviewed, different authors were found who emphasize the importance of
the logistics chain (López Rodríguez et al., 2018; Argueta & Salazar, 2015), where one
of the most relevant links is maritime transportation. In addition to the lack of
containers, there are the traffic jams that exist in the largest international ports and
the temporary closures of some maritime terminals that have negatively impacted the
competitiveness of nations.
As if a gear were lacking oil, when one of the parts gets stuck, the whole system suffers
disruptions. Acuña (2016) indicate that permanent innovation in international
transport is not only limited to one transport, however, maritime transport is
considered the most economical, being the means of transport responsible for
mobilizing about 90% of the cargo traded internationally. The importance of the State
in trade exchange processes is fundamental to implement internal improvements that
favor the value chain, such as customs, road and port infrastructure, which should
promote the massification of trade exchanges (Torres & Chávez, 2015).
The methodology used in this research was successful and the objectives set were fully
met, first of all the factors affecting the increase in international freight rates were
compiled, from a documentary analysis the main concepts of the logistics chain are
related, taking as relevant the maritime transport in it was possible to determine the
amount in tons of goods that circulated during the period 2019 -2020 seeing a decrease
of almost 40% compared to the amount imported in 2019. It has also been identified
that the shipping sector is led by five business groups, the Italian MSC, the Danish
Maersk, the French CMA CGM, the Taiwanese Evergreen and the Chinese Cosco,
which own more than a quarter of the ships and 43.2% of the tonnage, are responsible
Impact of the increase in international freight costs for Colombian importers between 2019 and 2021.
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for moving goods around the world and the lag presented by some countries in port
infrastructure.
Secondly, the impact of the increase in the cost of international freight for Colombian
importers was analyzed, where the main importing sectors of FCL maritime goods
were identified, from which it is evident that the manufacturing sector is the most
relevant being also one of the sectors that has a stricter customs control, this due to
the type of mixed tariff that most of its cargoes handle. The increase in international
freight rates makes it one of the hardest hit sectors, also the few benefits of the
conditions of the containers at destination affect it. Colombian companies are daily
seeking to maximize value, avoid bankruptcy, and these are objectives that require
strategies with management tools and risk mitigation, there the administrative
capacity of managers plays a fundamental role (Giraldo-Prieto et al., 2017). Similarly,
the main destinations of imported goods are identified, with China being Colombia's
main supplier of different products, and a variation in imports is observed in 2019-
2020, giving relevance to the logistics chain.
Finally, it was intended to determine whether the impact of the increase in these items
has been positive or negative for Colombian importers, to reach this conclusion a
survey of information was conducted from a descriptive research, in which through
sources such as DIAN and ANALDEX different figures were obtained regarding
imports between 2019 and 2020, which were analyzed and allowed reaching the
conclusion that the increase in international freight costs has negatively affected
Colombian importers, given that a negative variation has been evidenced in the volume
of operations carried out in all sectors of the economy in the period stipulated above.
This indicates that the methodology used was in line with the objective set and the
result gave a satisfactory answer to the question posed.
From the findings obtained in the development of the present investigation, it is
suggested to continue with the course of the same under the line of solution to the
negative impact generated to the Colombian importers by the increase of the freights,
this taking into account the factors that affect these costs and evidencing that this
situation has a high and negative impact on international trade; the most successful
option is to focus a new investigation expanding the information found and later
proposing hypothesis of solutions to this problem or processes that allow improving
the logistics to make it more efficient. It is no secret that the world is becoming more
globalized every day, and in terms of international trade, alternatives must be sought
to be more competitive and generate greater connections between different countries
Impact of the increase in international freight costs for Colombian importers between 2019 and 2021.
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worldwide, which will allow a better economic development, strategies and trade
alliances that benefit more people and a better standard of living.
One of the limitations of the article is the methodology used, since it was based on a
descriptive research based on documentary analysis, which, although it managed to
answer the objectives set, did not take into account the opinion of importers, the
companies and sectors that have been most affected, as well as the possible solutions
they could provide to the problems that have arisen. The inclusion of a combined
methodology between the documentary analysis and the collection of information
from the surveys would have allowed for more concrete results and a broader
perspective of the situation analyzed. In research of this type, it is relevant to have both
qualitative and quantitative methods, since they complement each other and serve as
joint tools when it comes to providing deeper and more accurate conclusions.
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