Compañía Sudamericana de Vapores (CSAV) is a Chilean shipping company. Founded in 1872, it is one of the oldest shipping companies in the world and, currently, one of the largest in Latin America.
CSAV is a corporation that has been listed on the stock market since 1893. It mainly specializes in container shipping, but also offers special services, such as the maritime carriage of liquid and solid bulk cargoes, refrigerated cargo and cars.
CSAV is a global company, operating more than 30 liner services around the world (as well as feeder services) and has commercial presence in over 80 countries, generating more than 85% of its total income through its own agencies.
In 1999, Brazilian shipping company Libra became part of CSAV and, in 2003, Uruguayan company Montemar Marítima S.A. also became part of the Company, thus consolidating strong presence along the East Coast of South America towards the main destinations in the world. In turn, by integrating CSAV and Norasia in June 2000, the Company was able to enter the main East-West routes. Currently, CSAV Norasia operates in more than 50 countries and has direct departures from the main ports of Asia, Europe, India and the Middle East.
Quiñenco, the Luksic family’s holding, became part of the ownership of CSAV in 2011 and, after a capital increase in February 2012, the group became the legal comptroller of the company, currently with 45.9% of the ownership. Quiñenco is one of the most important conglomerates in Chile, with consolidated assets over US$54,400 million. It controls an important number of leading companies, such as Banco de Chile, CCU, Enex (licensee of Shell in Chile) and Madeco.