ASOTEP Assessment: Peru's Chancay Megaport Impact on Ecuador 'Indirect and Non-Substitutive'
Ecuador's Asociación de Terminales Portuarios (ASOTEP) has published its assessment of the competitive impact of Peru's Chancay megaport on Ecuador's port system, concluding the effect has been "indirect and non-substitutive" — a complement rather than a displacement.
Chancay Operating Metrics
The Chancay megaport, located in Huaral Province, Lima Department (approximately 80 km north of Lima), has been operational since 2024. After approximately 18 months of operations:
| Metric | Figure | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Annual throughput | ~3 million metric tons | 2.3% of Peru's national total |
| Container handling | ~231,478 TEU | 5.7% of Peru's containerized movement |
| Transshipment share | ~16% of national tonnage | Dominant position in segment |
| Vessel capacity | Up to 24,000 TEU megavessels | — |
ASOTEP Analysis
Iliana González, ASOTEP Executive Director, characterized the impact as involving three dynamics:
- Reconfiguration of regional transshipment segment — Chancay is capturing transshipment volumes that previously routed through other Pacific ports
- Adjustments in maritime routes toward Asia — Direct shipping lanes to Asian markets now route through Chancay, altering regional logistics patterns
- Greater competition in connectivity and logistics efficiency — Regional ports must compete on service levels and infrastructure quality
González emphasized that Chancay functions as "a complementary logistics node rather than displacing Ecuadorian cargo operations," serving as a strategic hub for direct Asia connections through transshipment routes.
Ecuador's Port Investment Response
Ecuador's private port sector has been investing aggressively:
| Period | Investment |
|---|---|
| Through 2025 | ** million** accumulated |
| Projected through 2030 | ~ million |
The near-doubling of investment through 2030 suggests the port industry views the Chancay competition as a catalyst for modernization rather than a threat to viability.
Regional Competition Intensifying
Peru has awarded construction of a second megaport at San Juan de Marcona in the Ica region, with projected operations beginning in 2029. This would give Peru two Pacific-facing megaport facilities capable of serving Asia-bound trade routes — further reshaping the competitive landscape for Ecuadorian port operators.
What to Watch
- Ecuador port modernization timelines. Whether the M investment pipeline translates into capacity expansions or efficiency improvements that maintain competitive positioning
- Transshipment route shifts. If Ecuador-origin cargo begins routing through Chancay for Asian destinations, the impact assessment shifts from "indirect" to direct competition for logistics revenue
- San Juan de Marcona development. The 2029 timeline for a second Peruvian megaport compresses Ecuador's window to upgrade infrastructure
- Chinese investment patterns. Chancay is a Chinese-backed project (COSCO Shipping Ports). Monitor whether similar investment interest materializes for Ecuadorian port concessions
- Banana and shrimp export logistics. Ecuador's top commodity exports are volume-sensitive to shipping route costs. Any shift in carrier preference toward Chancay would show up in FOB pricing data
Source: El Universo
Source
El Universo — “Impacto de megapuerto de Chancay ha sido indirecto y no sustitutivo para el Ecuador”
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