By Karen E. Thuermer, AJOTThe composition of trade in Latin America and the Caribbean is on the cusp of major change. The recent softening of some US travel restrictions to the island by the Obama Administration is setting the stage for widening opportunity. Cuba is already affecting one American city—Corpus Christi, TX. In fact, back in 2003, the Port of Corpus Christi was the first seaport in the United States to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Cuban government. “The MOU was signed for the purpose of identifying strategic agricultural imports that could emanate or originate in Texas and in the Great Plains that could be easily be transported with efficiency and savings to Cuba,” explains Ruben Bonilla, Corpus Christie Port Chairman. As a result, the Port has a well-established and fine-tuned relationship with Alimport, Cuba’s primary purchaser of food and agricultural products. In June, Port of Corpus Christie officials were in Cuba meeting with Alimport to discuss regular vessel service that would enable shipping containers to Cuba on a grocery store concept. “Cuba would say, for example, this month we need beans or citrus fruits. The service out of the Port would then ship the products,” Bonilla explains. AG ADVANTAGES Geographically, the Port of Corpus Christi has an advantage in meeting these needs. By highway, it is less than two hours from the citrus capital of United States – the Rio Grande Valley. “We are two hours from the Winter garden area west of San Antonio,” he adds. “If they need beans, we have a ready supply from North Dakota. We have poultry process centers both in Texas and Arkansas.” All of these products can get to the Port of Corpus Christi rapidly and immediately since the Port is an uncongested deep-water port. “It is impractical to send apples from the State of Washington across country to Florida ports and then to Cuba,” Bonilla adds. Currently, the Port is working to establish a regular vessel service that would be weekly and originate from Port of Corpus Christi to Cuba. One company with which it is discussing this option is Register Shipping. Its principal is Sean Register out of Savannah. The company has accompanied the Port to Cuba to entertain such discussions. “Register is no stranger to Cuban voyages,” Bonilla continues. “They have made 97 voyages to Cuba since US law has allowed agricultural exports to Cuba. They have since turned their attention to the Port of Corpus Christi because they recognize the potential of serving Cuba from ports west of the Mississippi.” Bonilla particularly sees the Port well positioned for this trade. “We offer a more competitive price, and can operate more efficiently and quickly than other ports,” he says. “While the shipping of goods from Florida ports might involve less ocean time, the inland transportation costs for goods coming out of areas west of Mississippi are enormous.” In addition, the Port of Corpus Christi is served by all major rail lines—Kansas City Southern Railroad (KCS), Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), and Union Pacific (UP)—and has a rail line that goes right to the dock. There is no transportation delay in unloading and delivering the product into the hull of the ship. “We even have a 100,000 square foot refrigerated warehouse that is located on the dock,” he adds. This means that chicken coming from Arkansas by rail can be unloaded into the ship or the warehouse. “There is never any concern of spoilage or the loss of quality because it remains refrigerated during the entire time of delivery and unloading,” he says. “Those are things Register has taken note of and are promoting.” PETROCHEMICAL OPPORTUNITIES Besides food items, the Port of Corpus Christi has advantages in being a major petrochemical port. “We are served by Valero, CITGO, and Flint Hills, among other refineries,” he says. Consequently, port officials have lobbying Members of Congress to create another exception to t