Port of Valparaiso brings Chile and China closer together

The Port of Valparaiso is Chile's main container and passenger port, and one of the South Pacific's most important seaports. Today, considering the Port of Valparaiso's cargo throughput, China has become the No 1 import partner and No 2 export partner, and the port is helping with an increasing amount of trade between the two countries. 

"Since the free trade agreement between our countries was established in 2005, total cargo through the port has increased from 5.8 million tons in the first year to more than 11 million tons in 2014," says Gonzalo Davagnino, general manager of the Port of Valparaiso. "By 2014, 30 per cent of imports through the Port of Valparaiso were from China." Increased bilateral trade and the Port of Valparaiso's "brotherhood agreement" with the Port of Shanghai symbolise strong connections between Chile and China. Today, continuing developmental plans for the Port of Valparaiso present tremendous opportunities for Chinese investors, port operators and infrastructure developers.

The port has been awarding concessions to leading global firms to operate and expand Terminals 1 and 2, allowing the port to serve four Post Panamax vessels simultaneously. 

Future projects include a new world-class passenger terminal, an intermodal station to handle increased trans-shipped rail cargo, and a third 2.2 million 20-foot equivalent (TEU) unit capacity terminal. "These significant projects may eventually require a concessioner to build and operate them," Davagnino says. "We feel these projects could be attractive for Chinese investors looking for opportunities in Chile, as both countries continue to strengthen their very close relationship."