As more terminal capacity comes online and volume remains muted, port operators along South America’s west coast, principally in Peru and Chile, are expecting competition for cargo to be fierce in 2016.
“Considering the weak outlook for our industry in 2016 and beyond, and the injections of more port infrastructure in Chile’s fifth region (encompassing Valparaíso and San Antonio), Puerto Central, berth expansion projects in TPS-Valparaíso (Terminal Pacífico Sur Valparaíso) and ours, competition for cargo is going to be intense,” said Jose Iribarren, general manager of Chile’s San Antonio International Terminal, or STI.
Meanwhile, in Peru, container traffic is focused in the port of Callao. DP World Callao has begun its phase two expansion, which will increase the depth there to 16 meters and add a new berth on reclaimed land, bringing total quay length to 950 meters.