The new Bulletin published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) analyses the energy consumption pattern in South American container terminals and provides a comparison of energy use in terminals. The issue presents thoughts on how energy efficiency could be improved and how the current pattern might affect the competitiveness of the region. Particularly emphasis is given on the role of reefer trade.

The issue discusses the relevance of energy consumption as a base for identifying energy efficiency potential and calculating carbon footprints of ports and terminals in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) focusing on the Southern Cone, namely the countries Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. More than 95 percent of the South America’s external trade is moved through ports. Thus, the performance of port infrastructure and services in terms of energy consumption is important to discuss with regard to competitiveness of infrastructure services, port performance and the aim to make activities of the transport and logistics sector more sustainable.

This is the worldwide first publication on energy consumption patterns in South American container terminals. The results introduced in this issue are part of a  Latin American wide study on energy consumption in terminals and ports of all kinds. Follow‐up publications including a larger set of countries as well as with specifications for bulk cargo, liquids and gas are under way.