PERU · INFRASTRUCTURE
Key Facts
- —The country Peru, a Pacific nation of about 34 million people, sends 46% of its traditional exports, mostly minerals, to China.
- —The background Chancay, a megaport 80 kilometres north of Lima majority-owned by China’s COSCO Shipping, opened in November 2024.
- —Why now The government wants the port to draw new investment and jobs, so it is surveying state-owned land around it.
- —What happened On Tuesday, 6 October, the housing ministry said it had identified six state plots totalling 1,211 hectares near the port.
- —The numbers That is about 3,000 acres, mapped by drones on 18 flight plans covering more than 1,300 hectares.
- —What it means for you A public auction is one option the ministry named, which would open the plots to private bidders.
- —Still open No prices, timetable, zoning or exact plot locations have been published.
Peru has mapped 1,211 hectares of state land beside the Chinese-run Chancay megaport and says it may auction the plots to investors.
Peru has identified 1,211 hectares of state-owned land near the Chancay port that could be offered to investors. The housing ministry announced the survey on Tuesday, 6 October, Andina, the state news agency, reported.
Chancay, majority-owned by China’s COSCO Shipping, is a port US officials have flagged as a sign of China’s reach in South America. Whoever gets the land around it will help decide who builds the warehouses and plants that serve it.
What the Ministry Found
The Ministry of Housing, Construction and Sanitation did the work through the SBN, the national agency that manages state property. The 1,211 hectares, about 3,000 acres, are split across six plots the ministry calls strategic.
That is roughly three and a half times the size of New York’s Central Park. The ministry said the plots lie in a strategic area because of their closeness to the port.
Technical teams flew high-precision drones on 18 aerial-survey flight plans and inspected more than 1,300 hectares in total. The ministry said the images give updated data on each plot’s status, availability and features.
“Chancay is a strategic zone for the country’s development,” said Housing Minister Mauricio Arnillas. He said the ministry wants state land to become “opportunities for investment, employment and development” for local people.
How the Land Could Be Sold
The survey will let the state weigh, under current law, how to dispose of the plots, the ministry said. One option it named is sale by public auction.
The SBN already sells surplus state property through public auctions. The ministry said the land could serve future public as well as private investment, so not every plot may be sold.
The statement did not give the plots’ exact locations, individual sizes, current use or any valuation. It also did not say whether any land is earmarked for industrial parks or logistics zones.
Why the Chancay Port Matters to Washington
Chancay opened in November 2024, about 80 kilometres north of Lima, Peru’s capital. COSCO Shipping Ports owns 60%, and the Peruvian miner Volcan owns the rest.
Its first phase cost about US$1.3 billion, and it was built for very large container ships on Asia routes. US officials have warned it could extend Chinese influence, while Lima presents it as a hub open to all traders.
China matters for that trade. It took 46% of Peru’s traditional exports, mainly copper and other minerals, from January to August, the exporters’ association ADEX said.
Not every shipping line has moved in. Gilberto Santos, who runs carrier Ocean Network Express (ONE) in Peru, told the Lima daily Gestión that Chancay would not add volume.
ONE moves about 80% of its Peruvian cargo through Callao, the main port serving Lima, he said. Splitting cargo between the two ports would not be efficient, he added.
What It Means for You
For investors, a state auction would offer a way into the port’s hinterland that does not run through the Chinese operator. The United States was the destination of 28.1% of Peru’s non-traditional exports, such as fruit, from January to August, ADEX said.
For US policy, a wider mix of owners around Chancay could matter as much as the port itself. Who builds the warehouses, cold stores and plants nearby will shape which trade the port serves.
What Is Not Known
The ministry has not said where exactly the six plots are, how large each one is, or what they are worth. It is not known whether any of the land is occupied or has legal disputes.
No timetable, auction rules or zoning plans have been published. It is also unclear whether COSCO or its Peruvian partner would be interested.
What Comes Next
The SBN will now study how to dispose of the plots under Peruvian law. Any public auction would have to be announced in advance with its rules and base prices.
The survey does not mean a sale is imminent, and no buyer has been named. It also does not change the ownership or operation of the Chancay port itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Chancay port?
It is a deep-water container port about 80 kilometres north of Lima that opened in November 2024. It was built to handle very large ships on routes to Asia.
Who owns the Chancay port?
China’s COSCO Shipping Ports holds 60% and Peruvian miner Volcan holds 40%. The land identified on 6 October belongs to the Peruvian state, not to the port.
Will the land be sold to foreign investors?
No decision has been taken. The ministry says a public auction is one option, but it has not set rules, prices or dates.
How big is 1,211 hectares?
It is about 3,000 acres. That is roughly three and a half times the size of Central Park in New York.
Why does the United States care about Chancay?
US officials see the Chinese-controlled port as a sign of Beijing’s growing reach in Latin America. Peru says the port is open to traders from every country.
Sources: Ministry of Housing, Construction and Sanitation via Andina; La República, ADEX export figures; Gestión, Ocean Network Express and Chancay (all accessed 7 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief