The day finally arrived. With the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the inauguration ceremony of the Port of Chancay—a multipurpose port terminal set to transform the region's commercial landscape—was held.

The event took place at Peru’s Government Palace and was attended by Peruvian President Dina Boluarte and 16 heads of state from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), whose meeting is being held in Lima.

Expectations for the inauguration, which followed a bilateral meeting and was held virtually for authorities with simultaneous activities in Chancay, were reflected in the Peruvian Official Gazette, El Peruano: “Peru begins a new era today.”

Port of Chancay: A Regional Hub

El Peruano highlighted that the terminal will serve as a key maritime hub for trade between South America and Asia, particularly China (via the Port of Shanghai). It is expected to redistribute cargo from Peru, Chile, Ecuador, and Colombia.

Mario de las Casas Vizquerra, public affairs manager for Cosco Shipping Ports, explained that shipping times from South America to Asia (China, Korea, or Japan) currently take 35 to 40 days. With the new port, ships will be able to make the journey in just 23 days due to a direct connection. He added that Chile currently lacks a direct route to Asia.

The terminal is not only expected to boost international trade but will also impact thousands of families along the corridor from central Peru to the coast.

The Official Gazette further reported that the port will generate an economic and social impact equivalent to $4.5 billion annually, or 1.8% of Peru’s GDP. This will translate into thousands of jobs in industries such as international trade, fishing, food and beverages, and metal mechanics.

Operational Updates

In an interview with Peruvian media outlet RPP, Carlos Tejada, deputy general manager of Cosco Shipping Ports Chancay, said: “According to the schedule with the national port authority, we started from the 16th a test conditioning stage because the technology of the project requires this stage to improve the efficiency and performance of the port. But as of the 16th, we will begin to handle real cargo.”

Tejada noted that four ships are already moored: one for vehicle transport, two for containers, and one for bulk cargo.

“These ships will begin to disembark and load cargo for final destination in various countries around the world, especially in Asia, starting on the 16th. We are going through this test conditioning stage, but we are already handling real cargo. We estimate that in the first year of operation, we will be handling around 700,000 to 750,000 containers,” he added.

Remarks by the Chinese President: The Silk Road of the 21st Century

In El Peruano, Xi Jinping emphasized that China and Peru will work together to steer the so-called “friendship boat” toward a brighter future.

“As Latin American friends often say, without courage, one will never conquer the mountain or cross the sea. At the new historical starting point, with a single heart and unwavering courage, we Chinese and Peruvians will strive together to steer the ship of Sino-Peruvian friendship to a brighter future,” Xi wrote.

Regarding the Port of Chancay, Xi described it as “the first intelligent port in South America” and noted that the first phase of the project will reduce the maritime journey from Peru to China to 23 days, save more than 20% in logistics costs, generate annual income of $4.5 billion for Peru, and create over 8,000 direct jobs.

He added that the port would be “a true path of prosperity in promoting common development between China and Peru, and between China and Latin America and the Caribbean.”

At the Government Palace, Xi told Boluarte that the Port of Chancay “is another successful project of Sino-Peruvian cooperation. China is willing to work with the Peruvian side to take the Port of Chancay as a starting point, forge a new land-sea corridor between China and Latin America, and connect the great Inca road and the maritime silk road of the 21st century, thus opening a road of happiness marked by common prosperity for Peru and others.”

Chancay Port Infrastructure

The port will accommodate larger vessels with capacities of up to 24,000 containers. It is expected to handle between 30% and 40% of Peruvian cargo destined for China and Southeast Asia during its initial years of operation.

The port’s only access is a 1,840-meter bridge—the longest in the country—designed to minimize the impact on the town of Chancay. The operational dock area spans more than 1.5 kilometers.

The project represents a $1.3 billion investment by Cosco Shipping (60% ownership) and the mining company Volcán (40% ownership).

Chancay is a coastal city and the capital of the Chancay District in the province of Huaral, part of the department of Lima.

Main photo and video courtesy of Comunicaciones del Puerto de Chancay.