Port of Chancay: Peru’s new gateway for agricultural exports to Asia

Positioned about 80 kilometers from Lima on Peru’s central coast, the Chancay port is poised to emerge as a pivotal gateway for Peru’s agricultural exports to Asia.

Despite flourishing agriculture, Peru has challenges accessing the Chinese market, highlighted a spokesperson from the terminal.

Peru has established free trade agreements with several Asian countries.

However, due to the perishable nature of their agricultural produce, they face difficulties reaching Asian markets, noted Mario de las Casas, Corporate Affairs Manager for Cosco Shipping, the Chinese company overseeing the port’s construction.

Currently, shipments from Peru to China take around 45 days through other ports.

With Chancay Port’s operational commencement, this duration is expected to decrease by 10 days.

This reduction would greatly benefit producers of perishable goods, such as grapes and blueberries.

De las Casas emphasized that although they lead in blueberry and grape production, accessing the Asian market remains challenging.

The port project is a collaboration between Cosco and the Peruvian company Volcan.

The initial investment is pegged at US$1.3 billion, aiming to facilitate four docking stations for ships holding up to 18,000 containers.

During a recent site visit, advancements in the 1,500-meter pier area were evident, as was a 2.7-kilometer breakwater structure to mitigate tidal effects.

Containers will be offloaded and transported to a logistics area through a 1.8-kilometer tunnel constructed beneath the Pan-American highway.

Work on the port was temporarily halted after an incident last May, causing damage to nearby residences.

De las Casas acknowledged the issue, attributing it to filler materials and moisture.

He further clarified that the new port, set to be operational by the end of 2024, won’t handle bulk mineral transport, ensuring minimal environmental impacts from such loads.

The port’s vision extends beyond shipping: it seeks to stimulate major infrastructure projects along the Peruvian coast, positioning itself as a pivotal logistics hub in South America.

De las Casas pointed out that it will be the first in South America to accommodate ships with 18,000 to 24,000 containers due to Chancay’s 16-meter depth.

A NEW SOUTH AMERICAN TRADE NEXUS

Peru’s Chancay port draws interest from Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador.

Brazil could reduce transit times to Asia from 45 days to just 28 using Chancay. A strategic road from Brazil’s Amazon facilitates this connection.

Countries like Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador also see Chancay as an opportunity to streamline their exports.

The port’s inauguration is set around the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where Peru leads the discussions.

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