REGIONAL REPORT | LATIN AMERICA
INVESTING IN GROWTH
Across Latin America, ports are making major infrastructure investments to facilitate a new phase of growth. DLM discovers what is driving demand, and how both ports and equipment manufacturers are rising to the challenge.
Liebherr’s port equipment aims for efficient cargo handling at both seaports and inland harbours.
atin America is a large and varied continent, containing ports with very differing needs. However, there are some common themes that cross borders. Paco Pruden, regional manager Americas
L
for Konecranes’ lift trucks business unit, concurs. “Latin America is having very good momentum at the moment,” he says. “There are several reasons driving the projects, from electrification projects with global terminal operators, to assets updates due to ageing.” Global container throughput for 2026 is
forecast to increase around 2%. “It is hard to point to a hot spot, as not only Brazil and Mexico are running big projects, but also Chile, Peru, Colombia and Central America,” adds Pruden.
Meanwhile, ZPMC Latin America,
the regional arm of the Chinese crane manufacturer, has witnessed impressive growth. “In recent years, container throughput (TEU) in Latin America has shown an overall upward trend,” says Deniece Newton, general manager assistant of ZPMC Panama Corp. “This has driven significant growth in port equipment.” They cite regional economic growth as a key driver, but also stronger trade with China and cross-border e-commerce. Alongside this growth in shipping volumes comes large-scale expansion and modernisation of port infrastructure, as seen in Portonave, Brazil’s first privately-owned container port. Based in Navegantes in Santa Catarina, it has embarked on a R$1bn ($190m USD) investment programme, largely focused on enhancing quay infrastructure so it can accommodate vessels up to 400m long. The works began in January 2024 and are close to completion. Construction was in two phases, so that one half of the quay can continue functioning while the other is upgraded.
xiv | October 2025 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
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