分类： business

Jamaica’s maritime infrastructure continues to operate under severe pressure as unprecedented volumes of unclaimed shipments overwhelm port facilities and storage warehouses nationwide. The Shipping Association of Jamaica has issued urgent appeals to importers and cargo owners to expedite the collection of goods that have already been processed for release.

Industry leaders report that operational challenges have persisted well beyond the typical holiday season congestion period. Corah Ann Robertson-Sylvester, President of the Shipping Association of Jamaica, emphasized the escalating nature of the crisis: “The accumulation of uncollected cargo creates compounding logistical complications. All maritime institutions, including government agencies, are implementing coordinated measures to address this situation, with some facilities extending operating hours to facilitate clearance.”

The current gridlock stems from a perfect storm of operational disruptions. Hurricane Melissa’s impact on western Jamaica in October significantly hampered port operations just as seasonal import volumes began rising. This convergence was further exacerbated by substantial inflows of international relief supplies and diaspora contributions following the hurricane.

As an emergency response, authorities diverted some cargo traffic from Montego Bay to Kingston terminals. However, these alternative facilities are now operating substantially beyond their designed capacity. Additional complications have emerged from expired Unaccompanied Baggage Allowance documentation, commonly known as “yellow forms,” which has delayed clearance for both personal and relief shipments.

Industry stakeholders emphasize that resolving the backlog is critical for maintaining Jamaica’s economic stability. Prompt cargo clearance would reduce substantial demurrage and storage fees for businesses, protect supply chains essential to the tourism and retail sectors, and prevent inflationary pressure on consumer prices.

Authorities are urging all parties with outstanding shipments—including importers, family members, brokers, and registered charitable organizations—to immediately regularize documentation and collect their goods. The maritime association recommends contacting shipping agents or warehouse authorities directly to arrange expedited clearance.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a strategic move to diversify its tourism economy, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has announced the initiation of high-level talks with global tourism giant TUI Group. The discussions, held during the FITUR tourism fair, focus on a comprehensive partnership to amplify Jamaica’s visibility and attractiveness within Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Minister Bartlett emphasized that this collaboration is a cornerstone of Jamaica’s plan to build economic resilience by reducing its historical dependency on North American and Western European source markets. By leveraging TUI’s vast marketing infrastructure and operational expertise in emerging regions, Jamaica aims to secure a formidable presence in markets demonstrating a rapidly growing appetite for Caribbean travel.

The proposed alliance will explore multifaceted initiatives, including enhancing air connectivity through new and expanded flight routes, developing culturally tailored vacation packages, and executing targeted marketing campaigns designed to resonate with Latin American and Eastern European travelers.

This initiative is already gaining traction. Jamaica is currently witnessing a notable surge in arrivals from Latin America, complemented by strategic growth in European traffic fueled by new airlift from carriers like World2Fly from Portugal and Edelweiss from Switzerland. Current projections, based on escalating demand, indicate this growth trajectory is set to accelerate throughout the year.

“This partnership with TUI is poised to be a transformative opportunity for Jamaica’s tourism sector,” stated Minister Bartlett. “We are future-proofing our industry through value-driven strategic partnerships. The global outpouring of support for the Jamaican brand provides a powerful foundation for this expansion.”

The minister is currently leading a delegation at FITUR 2024, a premier global tourism forum featuring representatives from 156 countries and over 100,000 visitors, which serves as a key nexus for tourism professionals across Latin America’s inbound and outbound markets.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has released its latest trade analysis, revealing a significant upswing in export performance across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). According to the 2025 edition of the ‘Trade Trends Estimates for Latin America and the Caribbean’ report, the value of goods exported from the region grew by an estimated 6.4%, marking a notable improvement from the 4.7% increase recorded in 2024.

This expansion was primarily fueled by a substantial rise in export volumes, with commodity prices playing only a marginal role. The report identifies a robust performance in the metals sector—particularly gold, copper, and silver—as a key driver. Concurrently, the agro-industrial sector demonstrated solid gains, with exports of coffee, cocoa, fruit, and meat posting significant increases. Several manufacturing segments also contributed to the growth, including data-processing machinery, medical supplies, vehicles, and plastics.

Paolo Giordano, the IDB’s Principal Economist for the Productivity, Trade and Innovation Sector and the report’s coordinator, noted, ‘Despite the challenging global environment, Latin America and the Caribbean’s recent export performance has shown remarkable resilience.’ The analysis suggests the region may be entering a phase of sustained trade growth, albeit within a context of persistent global uncertainty and a risk balance that remains moderately tilted to the downside.

Regional performance was uneven. South America and Mesoamerica saw an acceleration in export expansion, while Central America experienced strong growth that lost momentum in the latter half of the year. The Caribbean’s aggregate results, showing a moderation from 2024’s 41.2% surge to a 14.6% rise in 2025, masked pronounced volatility and significant disparities among individual nations. For instance:
– Guyana’s growth slowed dramatically to 18.3% from 137.6%.
– Suriname rebounded impressively to 70.4% from -40.2%.
– Trinidad and Tobago saw growth increase to 5.6% from 3.5%.
– Several nations, including Barbados, Belize, and Jamaica, remained in negative territory.

Complementing the export surge, the region’s total imports also gained momentum, increasing by 6.1% in 2025, up from 3.2% in 2024, aligned with a rebound in domestic demand.

The report highlighted volatile price movements for key export commodities. While coffee prices soared by 49.9% and gold by 42.2%, other critical commodities like oil and iron ore experienced significant declines of 14.3% and 7.8%, respectively.

The IDB concludes that for the region to solidify this growth trajectory, countries must prioritize reforms and investments aimed at boosting productivity and reducing trade costs. Ensuring international trade remains a primary engine for economic growth will require sustained policy support for exports and investments.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Grace Foods has launched a strategic humanitarian initiative in collaboration with the BREDS Treasure Beach Foundation to support Jamaican farmers devastated by Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. The company integrated donation mechanisms into its airport pop-up experiences at Donald Sangster International Airport (January 3) and Norman Manley International Airport (January 9), allowing travelers to contribute directly to agricultural recovery programs while experiencing authentic Jamaican flavors.

The activation formed part of Grace Foods’ ‘Bring Jamaica Home’ campaign, designed to connect travelers with Jamaican culture through culinary experiences. Led by Grace chefs, the pop-ups featured dishes prepared with Grace Jamaican Honey Jerk Seasoning and other products, creating both a cultural immersion and fundraising opportunity.

Sabrina Watson, Global Category Manager of Seasonings, Sauces and Spices at Grace Foods, emphasized the initiative’s dual purpose: ‘Hurricane Melissa left parts of our island devastated, and months later, many farming communities are still rebuilding. Through Grace Jamaican Jerk, we wanted to celebrate Jamaican flavor while giving travelers a tangible way to support the farmers who make those flavors possible.’

The generated funds will specifically target agricultural recovery in St Elizabeth and surrounding communities, providing critical resources including seeds, irrigation support, and other essential inputs for replanting and livelihood restoration. This focus acknowledges that authentic Jamaican jerk cuisine depends on locally sourced ingredients and the farmers who produce them.

Watson noted the natural alignment with BREDS Foundation, citing their deep community embeddedness and effective ground operations. The partnership extends Grace Foods’ existing relationships with St Elizabeth farming communities near its Hounslow processing facility, where key jerk ingredients like peppers, thyme, escallion, and onions are sourced.

Traveler response demonstrated appreciation for the initiative’s tangible impact. Richard Ho-sing, a Jamaican traveler who participated, commented: ‘Grace is a brand we grew up with. Seeing them partner with a local foundation like BREDS to give back to farmers is a good look, not just for Grace, but for Jamaica. Farmers are the backbone of the food we love.’

The initiative represents part of Grace Foods’ broader ‘We Care’ ethos, emphasizing community development, resilience building, and sustained support for local producers beyond crisis response.