SAN ANTONIO, Chile, September 30 — The San Antonio port, Chile’s largest maritime hub, is embarking on a groundbreaking expansion that emphasizes sustainability and economic growth. This initiative, backed by both state and international investments, seeks to elevate the port’s position beyond its current rank as the ninth largest in Latin America.
Situated in the Valparaíso region, just 110 kilometers north of Santiago, the San Antonio port is state-owned and operates under five private concessions. In 2024, it managed an impressive 23 million tons of goods, valued at over $42 billion. The port’s busy docks welcomed over 1,000 ships and handled 1.8 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), a standard measure in maritime shipping.
Juan Carlos Muñoz, the Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, emphasized the urgency of the expansion, stating, “The most important thing is for the project to be inaugurated when demand requires it. We trust that, regardless of the government that comes in from next March, this project will follow the desired schedule. We are working as quickly as possible.”
The San Antonio port has experienced a remarkable surge in cargo movement, surpassing the historical port of Valparaíso by threefold. It serves a densely populated area where 63% of Chile’s 19.7 million residents reside and produces 59% of the nation’s GDP. Chile’s extensive free trade agreements with 34 countries account for 88% of the global economy. In 2024 alone, Chile recorded exports of $100.163 billion and imports totaling $84.155 billion.
The San Antonio Outer Port project is pivotal for enhancing international trade and establishing stronger connections with key global markets in Asia, the Americas, and Europe. The port is a vital gateway for exporting copper, fruits, wine, salmon, and other goods while receiving essential imports such as grains, vehicles, and machinery.
Minister Muñoz highlighted the upcoming congestion challenges that the expansion aims to address. “By the years 2035-2036, the installed capacity in San Antonio and Valparaiso will be exceeded. Therefore, we must work on a port expansion because otherwise, we will have significant congestion of trucks and ships,” he explained. The Outer Port project, he added, is crucial for maintaining Chile’s competitive edge in global trade.
This major expansion involves constructing two semi-automated terminals that will stretch 1,730 meters long and 450 meters wide, featuring eight berthing fronts. By 2036, when fully operational, the port will have the capacity to accommodate up to eight state-of-the-art container ships simultaneously, effectively doubling its current throughput to six million containers annually.
San Antonio has been identified as the optimal site for this unprecedented expansion. Currently, the project is navigating through environmental approvals and the bidding process for crucial infrastructure, such as the breakwater, which is essential for protecting the docks from adverse weather conditions.
Muñoz assured that the project is designed to transcend political transitions, stating, “We are taking the baton from those who came before. And we plan to hand it over improved and advanced to those who come next, regardless of political color.”
The investment required for the Outer Port is estimated at $4.45 billion, with the state-owned San Antonio Port Company contributing $1.95 billion and the private sector providing $2.5 billion. A $150 million credit from the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) has already been secured to finance preliminary works, including the construction of the breakwater and environmental compensation measures.
Environmental sustainability is a core principle of the expansion. Eduardo Abedrapo, president of the San Antonio port, assured that the project will prioritize ecological integrity, stating, “The port will be 100% electric. From the point of view of particulate matter pollution, it will strongly contribute to decarbonization.” The project also includes measures to protect local ecosystems, such as declaring two nearby water bodies as urban wetlands.
Abedrapo acknowledged that large construction projects inevitably have environmental impacts, but he stressed the importance of integrating sustainable practices into the expansion. The reuse of materials, such as the 16 million cubic meters of rocks removed for the breakwater, will also enhance environmental efficiency.
As the expansion progresses, the environmental qualification resolution is still pending, with technical reports being prepared and a citizen consultation process underway. Abedrapo anticipates that a decision regarding the project’s environmental approval could be reached by mid-2026.
The Outer Port is projected to modernize Chile’s public port infrastructure significantly, ensuring high operational efficiency and fostering a competitive logistics chain. The ongoing enhancement of the current port, including improvements to the breakwater and other safety measures, further underscores the commitment to adapting to climate change challenges.
Addressing concerns regarding competition from the new Chancay Port in Peru, Minister Muñoz emphasized the complementary nature of port development in the region. He stated, “Rather than generating competition between different ports and countries, there is instead complementarity.” This collaborative approach could enhance trade routes along the Pacific coast, allowing for more efficient shipping options.
As this ambitious project unfolds, San Antonio stands poised to redefine its role in global trade, demonstrating that economic progress can be achieved alongside a commitment to environmental sustainability.
