APL STARTS DIRECT MIAMI/CENTRAL AMERICA LINK

APL STARTS DIRECT MIAMI/CENTRAL AMERICA LINK    APL will launch a weekly container service linking Miami with the northern region of Central America, starting in mid-July.
   The containership “APL Miami” will serve the trade, providing a 2.5-day transit between Miami and ports in Guatemala and Honduras. Points in El Salvador and Nicaragua will be served overland.
   The carrier anticipates handling finished wearing apparel and refrigerated food products northbound and semi-finished apparel and piece goods southbound from the United States, Asia, Europe and other points.
   U.S./Central America garment trade is growing at 15 percent a year, APL said. The carrier is staffing its Miami office to develop this business.
   APL serves more than 30 ports in Latin America and the Caribbean. Last month the carrier enhanced its Gulf Express service that links Costa Rica and Panama with North and South America.