Global container terminal operator PSA International’s head for Latin America Enno Koll is confident that the region offers opportunities to port operators now that the Panama Canal expansion inauguration is less than 10 months away.
“Increased consumption is likely to lead to more transshipment and destination cargoes. We see certain countries on the West Coast of Latin America still enjoying healthy GDP growth and this has a positive knock on effect on container volumes,” says Koll. “Good economic growth which engenders higher disposable incomes has also contributed to increased imports from Asia using containers, which are often transshipped on the Pacific side of Panama.”
PSA operates the PSA Panama International Terminal, is a partner in Exolgan Container Terminal in Argentina and is building in a JV with ICTSI the SPIA-Aguadulce terminal, in the bay of Buenaventura on the Colombian Pacific coast.