Freight Forward — Navigating T&T’s Cargo Industry

February 19th, 2025

In the world of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) shipping, while many challenges loom, there are also viable opportunities for evolution and growth. “We must face facts and realise that we are not only competing with the business next door but with anyone who sells a similar product worldwide,” explains Sean Patience, Managing Director, Cargo Consolidators Agency Limited. Outlining the role government policy and trade agreements play, he explains, “If there are barriers to trade or inefficient customs practices, Trinibagonian businesses will lose out to other more in-tune countries.”

Steering Cargo Routes Amidst Rising Export Potential

The current upheaval in trade routes poses challenges to transporting goods. Patience identifies fighting in the Red Sea and Ukraine and problems at the Panama Canal as issues that impact the delivery of local imports and exports. “The world is now more interconnected than ever before; seemingly unrelated events can affect us in many ways.” Customer expectations are another important consideration. Patience notes that most clients demand an ‘Amazon-type of service’, a ‘door-to-door’ operation that requires extensive background coordination.

In this sometimes mercurial environment, Patience observes that overall cargo demand and shipping volumes are remarkably stable. However, the quantity of imports increases or decreases depending on what is available locally.

Alternatively, when it comes to exports, he sees considerable potential. The cargo demand and shipping volume of exports have been rising. Local manufacturers are trying to generate foreign exchange by penetrating external markets. He explained that local Business Support Organisations (BSOs) have been supporting the growth of businesses by providing opportunities to explore new markets regionally and internationally. Highlighting ‘the booming markets’ of Guyana and Suriname, he said, “The proximity of these countries augurs well for T&T as the transit time for goods is short.” CARICOM Member States also benefit from reduced duties and well-established air and sea links.

A Southern Caribbean Hub for Maritime Excellence

Patience envisions a promising future for T&T, potentially developing into a major hub for vessels operating in the southern Caribbean. Important advancements needed to reach this lofty goal include significant investment in port upgrades. “Customs needs to be on board with this initiative as well and become more of a trade facilitator rather than a trade inhibitor.” In addition to the air cargo services already provided by Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL), Patience believes that a small feeder aircraft setup operating a ‘hub and spoke system’ to nearby territories would be instrumental in promoting connectivity.

Technological advancements and innovations could also help transform local shipping. Patience identifies cargo tracking visibility as an essential asset. He also mentions the emergence of digital twin systems. A ‘digital twin’ is a virtual representation of a real-world object or system. He explains this can be used to “predict possible performance outcomes and issues and design solutions to improve the real-world object or system”. In the shipping sector, they optimise routes, improve supply chain visibility, and enhance port operations.

Patience asserts that while the T&T cargo industry faces significant challenges, strategic investments in technology, infrastructure, and regional collaboration are crucial to unlocking its full potential and driving future development.

By Dixie-Ann Belle