Ocean forwarder Eukor has picked up a consignment of Ford vehicles from the US port of Portland for shipment to South Korea. It is the first time that Ford vehicles have been exported through the port, situated in Oregon, on the US West Coast.
The vehicles were processed by Auto Warehousing Company at its facility at Terminal 6, situated on the Rivergate Industrial District, and loaded onto the M/V Morning Caroline, which was in port having delivered a consignment of Hyundai vehicles.
Among the vehicles on route to South Korea is the Fusion Hybrid – Ford’s first hybrid vehicle to be sold in the market. It is the first of six products Ford plans to introduce in Korea in 2012.
The port of Portland handled the first export of American-made Hondas to Japan back in 1988, but has generally specialised in imports since it opened Oregon’s first automotive terminal in the 1950s. Along with the new Ford business the port also handles Hyundai, Honda and Toyota vehicles. In 2011, more than 234,000 vehicles moved through the port.
The port said that the recently signed free trade agreement between the US and South Korea could help continue the trend.
Following the signing of the agreement last November Ford’s CEO Alan Mulally said the approval would open new opportunities for the company to reach even more Korean customers.
"This would not be possible without the improvements made last year to increase transparency and address trade policies,” he added.
