Servirio`s News

Growth in port infrastructure and equipment were some of the highlights

The successful on-site return of TOC Americas in Lima in October, the progress of the works on the Chancay Port Terminal and other infrastructure in Peru; the modification of the toll structure of the Panama Canal and the unfortunate fire at the Bravo Petroleum facility in the port of COMPAS Barranquilla in Colombia, are just some of the main events in port matters that occurred in Latin America during 2022, which we will now turn to. review below.

Peru: In May APM Terminals (APMT), operator of the Callao Multipurpose North Terminal, concluded negotiations with the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) to modify its concession contract -via addendum- in order to redesign the following phases of expansion and modernization of the North Dock. This paves the way for APMT to increase its investment to US$1,095 million, under a new design and including other works, in addition to the new stages.

The modernization process of the Salaverry Multi-Purpose Port Terminal, located in La Libertad, included improvements in pier type 1, which is 268 meters long by 43 meters wide, and 2, with an extension of 230 meters long by 30 meters wide; in addition to the construction of silos, warehouses, port equipment and the execution of an anti-port. The investment for the execution of Stages 1 and 2 amounted to US$121.8 million.

The face-to-face return of TOC Americas 2022 was a complete success in its last edition held in Lima between October 18 and 20 at The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center. The instance brought together more than 1,500 visitors, being the most popular since its inception. The attendees were able to find out about the current situation and the challenges of the maritime, port and logistics industry at the Container Supply Chain conference; of the latest technological proposals in the presentations and conversations of TECH TOC and; In addition, they were able to visit an exhibition venue that brought together the most outstanding companies in the maritime sector.

In November, the expansion and reinforcement works of the breakwater pier of the Paita Port Terminal culminated, with which the complex was ready to receive larger ships. Works include the construction of a pier 364 meters long and 17.20 meters wide, adjacent to the existing pier.

Work continues on the Chancay Multipurpose Port Terminal, located 80 km north of Lima, in Huaral, under the responsibility of the Chinese company Cosco Shipping. The megaproject is made up of three large components: the port operating area, the entrance complex, and the 18-kilometre tunnel that will connect the entrance complex with the port operating area. The investment in its first stage amounts to US$1.300 million.

Meanwhile, the expansion works of the South Terminal of the Port of Callao, which are in charge of the concession company DP World Callao, continue to advance. According to the project, the pier will be extended by 400 meters to reach 1,050 meters. And, the storage yard will grow to 39 hectares.

In Panama, according to the 2021 Port Report prepared by ECLAC, published in May, the port of Colón – counting the CCT, MIT and Cristóbal terminals – led the container mobilization performance classification in Latin America and the Caribbean, after mobilizing a total of 4,915,975 TEUs in 2021 with a year-on-year growth of 10.3%.

The Panama Cabinet Council approved in July the toll structure recommended by the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal. With this approval, the interoceanic highway will assume a simplified and value-based rate structure, reducing the number of rates from 430 to less than 60.

Argentina suffered a severe drought that damaged the wheat harvest and other products. As a consequence, the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange projects shipments in the 2022-2923 campaign of 7 million tons of wheat, less than half of the exports registered in the 2021-22 campaign (14.5 million tons).

Bolivian cargo exports through the Port of Arica presented a growth of 15% during the first seven months of the year compared to the average registered in the last five years. The figure at that time of the year reveals that said country continues to be the natural and preferential outlet for Bolivian exports, due to its proximity, logistics, rates and competitive services.

In Brazil, the Port of Santos exceeded, in November, the accumulated cargo mobilization of all of 2021 (147.0 million tons), totaling 150.4 million tons and marking a growth of 11.5% compared to the January- November of last year.

In March, Brazilian asset management company Quadra Capital won the concession from Espirito Santo state port operator Codesa, offering a US$20 million payment to the government. The 35-year contract includes the administration of the port and the indirect operation of the Victoria and Barra do Riacho port facilities.

Colombia began the works of Puerto Antioquia, a project that provides for the qualification of five berths, an offshore platform, a viaduct of more than three kilometers, a land terminal and a refrigerated cargo terminal, which will become the largest from the country. The investment reaches US$720 million and it is estimated that the constructions will finish by the end of 2024.

The private equity fund managed by Colombia Infrastructure Partners (CIP), Colombian Infrastructure Equity Fund (Cief), acquired a 32.1% stake in the Buenaventura Container Terminal (TCBuen) and 50% of the Buenaventura Logistics Terminal ( TLBuen), which are located in the port area that mobilizes more than 50% of the containerized cargo of Colombia’s foreign trade.

The port of Cartagena reached position number 12 (with 152.9 points) – being the best ranked in Latin America and the Caribbean – in the second edition of the World Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) prepared by the Bank Global and the Market Intelligence Unit of S&P Global, published in May.

Around 4:30 in the morning on Wednesday, December 21, an explosion was recorded in one of the fuel storage tanks of the Bravo Petroleum company located in the COMPAS port area of ​​Barranquilla. The accident led to the suspension of the operations of the venue.

In Ecuador, in order to strengthen port operations and optimize service, the Guayaquil Port Terminal (TPG) announced in January the investment of US$20.9 million in the purchase of seven state-of-the-art cranes.

In May, the International Association of Ports and Bays (IAPH) awarded the winners of the #IAPH2022 Sustainability Awards during the official gala dinner of the IAPH World Conference on Ports, in Vancouver, Canada. At the event, he highlighted the recognition given to DP World Posorja in the “Climate and Energy” category with its “Sembrando Vida” project aimed at mangrove reforestation, which competed with more than 236 applicants.

Between August 08 and 12, 2022, the Manta Port Terminal -a subsidiary of AGUNSA- completed the maintenance dredging and deepening of the access channel, maneuvering area and docking sites of the Port of Manta, through the company Belgian Flanders Dredging Corporation, with which it was possible to obtain 14 meters of draft in specific areas.

Mexico: in December, Contecon placed the first stone of the Phase III works in the port of Manzanillo, which will allow the expansion of operational capacity and service the present and future needs of the country’s foreign trade. The investment plan, 2022 – 2025, involves more than US$230 million and will go to maritime and land infrastructure and equipment.

In Uruguay, in July, Terminal Cuenca del Plata (TCP) approved the award of works to the company Jan de Nul for the expansion of the terminal in the port of Montevideo. The works plan, among others, included the construction of a new pier to the west of the concession area for the attention of ships with a draft of 14 meters. Investments would be around US$455 million.

At the beginning of December, the port of Montevideo completed the mobilization of one million TEUs, thanks to the increase in the country’s foreign trade and the return of a significant percentage of cargo from Paraguay and southern Argentina.

In May, the Uruguayan river shipping company Gomistar bet on the Paraguayan naval industry with an investment of around US$25 million, which included the construction and operation of 18 jumbo-type barges, in order to transport goods on the Paraguay-Paraná waterway.