By Sebastián Betancourt
DP World Callao continues to grow. The operator of the Muelle Sur in the Port of Callao is on track to surpass the 2 million TEU barrier, a milestone for the industry at a regional level. The projection is not random, but is backed by the 2024 result, when the terminal ended the annual period with a total transfer of 1.96 million TEU.
The results for the first half of 2025 were also auspicious. Between January and June, the maritime facility managed to mobilize 1,001,830 TEU, which meant a 12% increase compared to the same period the previous year. Given these numbers, the general manager of the port facility, Marco Hernández, stated that “DP World Callao will be the first terminal to mobilize more than 2 million TEU per year.”
What are the projections that DP World has for the end of 2025?
They are truly excellent, to put it one way. We are going to end the year mobilizing more than 2 million 20-foot containers, which is a historic record for Peru. It must be considered that 90% of all the containerized cargo that the country moves goes through the Port of Callao, and of that 90%, DP World mobilizes 60%. So, it is a very important market share, which is basically the product of the investment in port infrastructure that DP World has added. It must be remembered that, in June of last year, the Bicentenario Project was inaugurated with an investment of 400 million dollars, which increased the terminal’s capacity to 2.7 million 20-foot containers.
What estimates do you have for next year?
We estimate very similar figures, we could say an estimated 2,100,000 TEU of mobilized cargo, each time bringing much more efficiency; the ships are growing, we operate ships 400 meters in length with up to 21,000 TEU capacity and that is bringing another dynamism.
What is the current position that DP World Callao holds among the ports located on the South American west coast?
We could say that it is the terminal with the greatest capacity on the west coast of South America. DP World Callao will be the first terminal to mobilize more than 2 million TEU per year. We always hope to set the standard for customers.
What challenges lie ahead for DP World Callao?
The first challenge we are facing is moving to the automation of our equipment, which will be operated by people in a control room, in a place where they can be with remote operations, precisely, to improve the utilization of the equipment and to be able to work 24/7 to continue being efficient with the volume management.
Is that initiative aligned with DP World’s environmental objectives?
Yes, the DP World corporation has the plan to be carbon neutral by 2045, but DP World Callao has a more aggressive goal, which is by 2030. We are investing about 90 million dollars in the electrification of all our equipment and that is what we are also replacing. We have a progressive replacement of equipment until 2028 so that by 2030, 90% of our emissions in scopes 1 and 2 will have been reduced.
How do you view the current development that Peru is driving in its port industry?
There has been quite a lot of work in conjunction with the authorities with a long-term vision.
Last year, Peru updated the law we had for the national port system, which gives us the option, subject to investments, to extend the operation for an additional 30 years, and that is where we are also applying. We are very close to submitting our proposal to the Peruvian state, which would basically double the terminal’s capacity from 2.7 to almost 6 million TEUs.
Will your proposal also be accompanied by a significant investment?
Just to give you an idea, from the first concession, so to speak, we have invested almost 1 billion dollars, of which 330 have been voluntary works beyond the concession contract, that is, making the terminal increasingly larger and more efficient, and that is more or less what we are offering for the next 30 years.
How do you work with the authorities to push these developments?
There is a lot of articulated work with the authorities. Right now, what we are doing is updating the strategic vision with the port authority until 2066, and that is where we are redesigning the terminal with a much greater capacity.
The Port of Chancay also appears as a relevant actor for the country’s port sector. From your perspective, what role does that terminal play in the dynamics of the ports in Peru?
It is a complementary infrastructure, each one pursues its value proposition, and that is how, basically, the market in the country is being divided.
Logistics infrastructure is also a fundamental element for the development of the industry. How do you evaluate its current situation and its development?
We have internal challenges. The good thing is that this new request for an extension – of the concession – contemplates being able to invest in infrastructure outside the terminal, so we are considering building a Valparaíso-type Zeal outer port, improvements in roads and processes, because the process and governance of the Port of Callao are important. That is what we are also working on.
