When it comes to choosing ports in Peru for your logistics business, there are many options to consider. However, you must consider port location, and goods handling capability among other vital features.
In this article, we will explore some of most active ports in Peru. These include both major and minor ports in Peru for your import or export business.
Busiest Sea Ports in Peru
1. Port of Callao
Callao is Peru’s largest and busiest seaport situated near Lima, through which 45 million tonnes of cargo pass per year, including 2.31 million TEUs. It particularly focuses on exports of containers, bulk minerals, general cargo as well as fishing exports.
The terminal is operated by APM Terminals and DP World, delivering optimized container handling, logistics, hi-tech cranes, and global shipping links.
Nevertheless, the general supervision of the port facility and its development is under the management of EmpresaNacional de Puertos S.A. (ENAPU). Callao has become an important port of call for Peru’s trade with Asia, Europe, and the Americas due to its location, deep water berthing, and intermodal access. Also, it serves cruise ship and ferry services to enhance commercial and tourism activities in Peru.
2. Port of Matarani
The port of Matarani is situated on the southern coast of Peru in the Arequipa region; it moves more than seven million tons of cargo every year. It specializes in mining exports, agricultural produce, and general, and bulk commodities. It is situated about 452 miles south of Callao and northwest of the Ilo Port.
It includes specialized facilities for copper, grains, and fertilizers with the operator, Terminal Internacionaldel Sur SA (TISUR). Its location near the border of Bolivia increases its importance for regional commerce, which provides vital export routes to the landlocked countries and southern Peru industries.
Matarani modern facilities and further expansion guarantee smooth functioning which enhances its function as a transit center for mining and agricultural industry. It also facilitates coastal transportation and upcoming international transportation networks in the Pacific region.
3. Port of Paita
Paita Port situated in northern Peru, near the Piura region, deals with over 1.3 million tons of cargo and over 274,151 TEUs each year. Operated by TerminalesPortuariosEuroandinos (TPE), it focuses on general cargo and refrigerated cargo where it deals with fruits and seafood.
Its infrastructure comprises of refrigeration and container terminals meant for agricultural produce export.
Paita provides linkage to principal trade routes in North America and Asia. The specific location of this port near the agro-export zones of Piura makes it possible to quickly process products such as mangoes or avocados. Being one of the most critical agro-export regions in Peru, Paita has vital importance in the improvement of Peru’s export capacity and the development of regional economies.
4. Port of Salaverry
Located in the La Libertad region in northern Peru, the Port of Salaverry handles a throughput of 3.5 million tons of cargo per year. It normally includes general cargo, bulk goods such as grains, fishmeal, fertilizers, and minerals. The port is important in the cargo business, especially in the exportation of agricultural and mineral products.
It is operated by Salaverry Terminal Internacional (STI) and is used as a distribution center for the northern agricultural area of Peru. It is vital for agro-industrial supply chains since the port has efficient and state-of-the-art bulk-handling infrastructure and connectivity. Its strategic location has made it to act as a regional distribution center hence improving trade in the northern part of Peru.
5. Port of Ilo
The Port of Ilo is situated on the southwest coast of Peru in the Moquegua region between Mollendo and Arica ports near the border of Bolivia. It actually transshipment 42,000 tones per annum, focusing on copper, mineral export, fish products, and general cargo.
Also, it is operated by EmpresaNacional de Puertos S.A (ENAPU) and is crucial to the mining industries in the south of Peru and to Bolivian commerce.
Ilo is endowed with deep-water berths that accommodate big vessels to provide efficient handling of bulk cargo. This port also supports trade for the landlocked regions. Future development plans target to increase its capacity and transform its infrastructure to accommodate increased demand.
As one of the significant transportation centers, it develops trade relations with the partners in the region and increases Peru’s exposure to mining overseas markets.
6. Port of San Martín (Pisco)
The Port of San Martín is situated in Ica, Pisco Province, Paracas District, it deals with 2.5 million tonnes of cargo every year. Major commodities include bulk liquids, agricultural produce, fish–meal and oil, minerals and sulphuric acid, and tourism. Operated by Terminal PortuarioParacas (TPP), it serves sectors like petrochemicals and agriculture among others sectors.
It has a modern facility and is located in close vicinity to attractions such as the Paracas National Reserve that comprise tourists.
Therefore, it is an ideal example of a two-in-one port for commercial and cruise activities. San Martín has a critical role in strengthening regional economies and expanding Peru’s share in the global agricultural export sector.
7. Port of Chimbote
Chimbote Port is situated in the Ancash region in the northern part of Peru along the Pacific Ocean coast; it is one of the safest and most stylish ports of Peru. The marine structures of the port measure 12 kilometers in length and reach CaletaColorada Bay in the north.
It transports 1.2 million tons of produce per annum specializing in general cargo, iron ore, fishmeal, and seafood export.
It is also run by the ENAPU and fosters the fishing industry and Peruvian agriculture. The port has storage and general processing infrastructure such as cold storage beneficial to exporters. Since Chimbote contributes to the supply chain of seafood in Peru, it is a very valuable component of the export economy in Peru, especially in Asia and Europe.
8. Port of Yurimaguas
The port of Yurimaguas is situated in the Amazon region, Loreto department, and the capacity it serves is 700,000 tons per year. Yurimaguas port operates under the management of COPAM – Concesionaria Puerto Amazonas S.A. It plays the role of the inland port for Peru’s Amazon and its products, providing links to broader trade markets.
Its main freight consists of timber, agri-produce, and consumer goods catering to the needs of remote villages hence fostering regional growth in areas of trade. Yurimaguas plays an important role in riverine commerce connecting the isolated zones to national and international markets.
9. Port of El Callao (Main Terminal)
The Port of El Callao which is situated in proximity to Lima is the biggest and the most important Port in Peru. It accommodates more than fifty percent of the total trade of the country by sea. It is operated by EmpresaNacional de Puertos S.A, (ENAPU).
It focuses mainly on container shipping and exports mining products. Modern facilities such as sophisticated terminals and intermodal accessibility make El Callao among the most efficient and competitive ports in the world. This makes it very important to Peru’s trade, and it complements export trade while at the same time import trade of very important products to the economy of Peru.
10. Port of Pucusana
Pucusana is a primary port in the Grano de Oro area and is situated 60 km south of Lima. It is mainly a fishing site; however, it offers an export of seafood and other small-scale activities in the fishing sector. The Pucusana port is controlled by EmpresaNacional de Puertos S.A. (ENAPU).
The current structure of the infrastructure is designed especially for the artisanal and small fishing operations. It is very important in the functioning of regional markets for seafood.
Pucusana has also provided support for the Peruvian fishing industry. Also, it has provided further development of more sustainable coastal industries and the growth of the regional economy.
11. Port of Paracas
The Port of Paracas is characterized for managing approximately 2.1 million tons of cargo per year. This is situated in the Ica area on the southern coast of Peru. It deals with agricultural produce for export, and bulk liquid and also provides a connection to the Peru tourism sector.
The port is a nearby tourist spot like the Paracas National Reserve and also participates in cruise activities. Due to this dual role as both a trading and tourism center, Paracas is important to both export as a trade hub to the tourism sector in Peru.
Less Busy Sea Ports in Peru
- Port of Talara: This northern port helps Peru’s oil refining company, seafood processing, and as well as local commerce which is crucial for energy and fishing industries in the region.
- Port of Tumbes: Tumbes is a small-scale fishing port market that borders Ecuador to support the coastal market and provide fish products to markets in its region.
- Port of Bayóvar: This specialized port located in the Golfo de Panama is mostly for exporting phosphates mined from nearby sources. Thereby fostering Peru’s role as a producer of fertilizer in the world.
- Port of Iquitos: Located on the Amazon River, Iquitos transports timber, agricultural produce, and other necessities for the regions in the Peruvian Amazon, connecting distant and remote communities to markets.
- Port of Huacho: This agricultural port is situated in West South America in Peru. It aids in exporting fresh produce and other local products improving trade for nearby farming villages in the northern Lima region.
- Port of Puerto Maldonado: Located in the Peruvian region of Madre de Dios, this inland port assists commerce and transportation of timber and agricultural produce to help the Peruvian Amazon economy.
- Port of Zorritos: Zorritos port is described as an artisanal fishing community. Zorritos in Golfo de Guayaquil Gulf is a small coastal fishing hub focused on supplying seafood to local markets for coastal villages.
- Port of Supe: This is a small-scale port situated in Barranca province in the coastal area of Peru. It manages agricultural exports, especially grains and vegetables and links Peru’s productive fields to the domestic and external markets.
- Port of Chancay: Chancay is a new logistic hub situated 80 km north of de Lima developing into a modern deep-water port to facilitate trade in the central of the Peruvian coast.
- Port of Pimentel: As a northern Peruvian port, it offers fishmeal and fresh seafood exportation as well as a boost to Peru’s fishing industry and tourist attraction.
- Port of Mollendo: Mollendo is situated in the Arequipa Region, southern Peru, and is mainly involved in fishing operations for local use, although large shipping is done in the Port of Matarani nearby.
Conclusion
The ports of Peru are the lifeline of the country’s trade structure wherein the various industries are linked to the international market. These ports facilitate the export of minerals, agricultural products as well as seafood making certain that the economy of Peru remains active.
You can therefore enhance your trading business if you learn about these ports’ capabilities and their focus areas.
More resources:
Freight Forwarders in Peru – Source: BANSAR
How to Calculate Sea Freight Rates with FCL and LCL – Source: BANSAR
