South Atlantic routes

From a geostrategic point of view, the South Atlantic is extended to the Brazil’s Navy 20 degrees of latitude north to the Antarctic continent, except for the Caribbean, subject to other considerations of political, economic and strategic. The extension to the north, to Africa includes a projection that way that stresses Northeast Brazil with a narrow channel of not more than 1,500 nautical miles wide that is an important trade route with strategic value for the countries bordering the South Atlantic.

The main sea routesin the South Atlantic are:

Route 1: East, from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean ports and Western Europe. Through this route passes by : 50% to 60% of all oil from all strategic materials imported from Europe.
Route 2 : same origin as - 1 in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico ports and harbors in the U.S. East Coast. By this route goes about 26% of all oil imported by the U.S..
Route 3: To the ports of Brazil by the Mediterranean and ports in Europe and to the ports of MERCOSUR, this route has a 53% of the transit of all Brazilian exports.
Route 4: this route links South America to the ports in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico this route has a 11,5% of the transit from all Brazilian exports and 13.5% of transit from all Brazilian oil imports .
Route 5 : East and Indian Ocean to Brazil and vice versa. By this route are carried 68% of all Brazilian imports of oil (from the Persian Gulf) 33% of all Brazilian exports (iron to the East, mainly)
Route 6: Brazil for the Gulf of Guinea. By this route is transported 15% of all Brazilian imports of oil.
Since MERCOSUR, Brazil figures one very important trader among others members.
The focal areas in the South Atlantic, ie areas where the concentration of vessels becomes dangerous for air force attacks, and aggressions from surface vessels and submarines:

- The Southern Cape of Good Hope;
- In the estuary of the River Plate;
- The coast of Cape Frio;
- The bay of Fernando de Noronha;
- The coast of Nigeria;
- The coast of Cape Verde.