Peru's Chinese-built mega port to soft launch in late November with Shanghai route (updated)

COSCO SHIPPING Ports

18/10/2024 22:24

(Adds executive's quote in paragraph 3-4, context in paragraph
5)
       LIMA, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Peru's massive Chancay port,
which authorities hope will become a major shipping hub for
South America-Asia trade, will ship two container ships a week
beginning late next month, an executive for port operator Cosco
Shipping said on Friday. 
    After the port's inauguration in mid-November, it will
initially cover a direct route to Shanghai and then may ship to
other points in the Asian market, depending on demand, said
Carlos Tejada, general manager of Hong Kong-based Cosco's local
subsidiary, Cosco Shipping Chancay Peru.
        "At the end of November, we will begin the stage known
as 'test conditioning,' which we expect to run until May.
However, during this soft launch phase, we can already handle
actual cargo, with two direct vessels per week," the executive
told reporters following a Peruvian-Chinese business forum.
  
    Tejada said that cabotage routes will be opened with smaller
ships from Colombia, Ecuador and Chile, whose cargo will later
be shipped to Asia from Chancay, initially in ships carrying up
to 14,000 containers, which will then be progressively increased
to larger vessels holding up to 24,000 containers.
        Cosco Shipping Ports  1199.HK  owns and will operate the
port with a 60% stake, with the remaining 40% held by Peruvian
miner Volcan  VOLCABC1.LM , which is controlled by Glencore
 GLEN.L .
  

 (Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing
by Adam Jourdan)
 ((Brendan.OBoyle@thomsonreuters.com;))