APM Terminals launches next phase of Callao expansion in Peru
A $570 million investment will lift container capacity at the Pacific coast's largest port from 1.3 million to 1.75 million boxes a year by 2030
APM Terminals Callao has launched the next phase of its project to expand and modernise its port facility in Callao, Peru, the largest port in the country and on the Pacific coast of South America. The terminal handles mooring, loading and unloading of solid and liquid bulk cargo, including edible oils and biofuels, alongside its container operations. In the first phase of the wider project, completed last year, storage capacity at the facility was raised substantially, laying the groundwork for the current stage of investment.
The next stage of the project, delivered in two phases over the coming four years without disrupting current operations, represents an investment of $570 million. Once complete, the company expects to increase annual container capacity from 1.3 million to 1.75 million boxes and general cargo capacity from 13.5 million to 18 million tonnes, according to the terminal's projects director, with full completion scheduled for 2030.
The first phase of the current stage, running through 2028, will focus on expanding container infrastructure, including construction of a new berth capable of handling ultra large container vessels. Three next-generation cranes will also be installed alongside additional container-handling equipment, positioning the terminal to accommodate larger tonnage as carriers continue to deploy bigger ships on Pacific coast routes.
The second phase, running from 2028 to 2030, will focus on further expansion of general cargo capabilities, including construction of three additional berths. The overall project forms part of a wider six-phase concession agreement between APM Terminals Callao and the Peruvian government, which carries a total investment commitment of $1.2 billion across its full scope.
With Peru's largest port continuing to expand its capacity in stages, the investment reflects the broader trend of terminal operators across South America's Pacific coast upgrading infrastructure to handle larger vessels and growing cargo volumes, positioning Callao to remain a key gateway for the region's container and general cargo trade as the project progresses toward its 2030 completion date.
