The Federation of Fruit Producers of Chile (Fedefruta) has expressed concerns regarding the recent inauguration of the Chancay multipurpose mega-port in Peru, warning that Chile may lose competitiveness in the region.

The Port of Chancay, the first port terminal in South America with significant Chinese capital (60% of shares), was built with an investment of nearly $3.5 billion.

Fedefruta urged the Chilean government—including both the public administration and the private sector—to collaborate in advancing port development to avoid falling behind in an area crucial for exports, particularly fruit.

“Fedefruta observes with concern how, while a mega-port is being inaugurated in Peru, our country has spent decades in fruitless discussions on port expansion in the Valparaíso region,” the organization stated.

The federation emphasized the need to accelerate investments in infrastructure for ports in both Valparaíso and San Antonio. “We must ensure that the proposed projects in the Valparaíso Port Company and San Antonio are materialized in a short period,” they said.

The Port of San Antonio, in particular, still faces significant hurdles. “One of the main challenges is the environmental evaluation, a slow process, along with other obstacles that experts believe could delay the project’s completion until 2032,” Fedefruta noted.

The organization also stressed that port investment requires substantial time and funding but highlighted the importance of related infrastructure improvements. “Projects in Valparaíso and especially in San Antonio require investments in highways and roads. Route 68 and the fruit route to the port of San Antonio must be improved due to high congestion levels,” Fedefruta added.

Fruit Exporters’ Perspective

Iván Marambio, president of Frutas de Chile, weighed in on the matter, saying, “We think that the Port of Chancay has to be analyzed from several dimensions, not just its infrastructure.”

Marambio emphasized how Chancay underscores the importance of infrastructure and international competition. “From an infrastructure perspective, it’s very good news for South America,” he said.

He explained that the new port is expected to generate increased shipping activity in the region. “We need to focus on improving our logistics. Before reaching the ports, we must advance in railway development and enhance our wave height conditions to optimize port operations,” he said.

While acknowledging that Chile’s current infrastructure is adequate, Marambio cautioned that this would not be the case in the coming decade. “Today, the infrastructure we have is sufficient. However, in 10 years, we will need more facilities. For that, we must expedite the processes we are currently working on—not as quickly as we would like, but we are making progress,” he noted.

Strategic Importance of the Port of Chancay

The Port of Chancay is set to become a critical maritime hub for trade between South America and Asia, particularly China (via the Port of Shanghai). It will serve as a regional center for redistributing cargo from Peru, Chile, Ecuador, and Colombia.

Mario de las Casas Vizquerra, Public Affairs Manager of Cosco Shipping Ports, explained the port’s strategic advantages. “Currently, it takes between 35 and 40 days to ship goods from South America to Asia (China, Korea, or Japan). With the Port of Chancay, shipping times will be reduced to 23 days due to the direct connection,” he said.