Workers handle containers at APM Terminals in the port of Callao as the company prepares for a new phase of the terminal's expansion, in Callao, Peru November 19, 2025.
The two-year modernization project will increase the terminal’s annual handling capacity to 2.4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) through longer berths, additional quay cranes, expanded yard areas, and upgraded gate and rail facilities.
The announcement was made during an event marking the start of direct container services from Asia to Callao. The new routes, launched in November, connect ports in China and South Korea directly to Peru’s main gateway, reducing transit time to approximately 23 days compared with previous routes that required transshipment.
Port authorities confirmed that multiple shipping lines have introduced the direct Asia–Callao services this month, with initial cargoes including consumer goods, electronics, and retail products ordered through Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Temu.
“Shipments are fully booked for the next six weeks. There’s demand,” Fernando Fauche told journalists at the event.
The direct services and planned capacity expansion are expected to strengthen Callao’s position as the leading container gateway on South America’s Pacific coast and support growing trade volumes between Asia and Peru.
APM Terminals and local port officials described the nearby Chancay megaport, located north of Lima and developed with Chinese investment, as complementary infrastructure that will serve different market segments and contribute to overall growth in Peru’s maritime sector.
Industry sources note that the combination of shorter transit times and increased terminal capacity at Callao will benefit Peruvian importers by reducing logistics costs and improving supply-chain reliability for goods originating in Asia.
Callao currently handles around 70 percent of Peru’s containerized imports and exports. The expansion will enable the terminal to accommodate larger vessels of up to 18,000 TEU capacity and process higher volumes as bilateral trade with Asian economies continues to rise.
The $550 million investment forms part of APM Terminals’ long-term concession agreement with the Peruvian government and reflects confidence in sustained trade growth through the port.
Construction work will be phased to minimize operational disruption, with the upgraded facilities scheduled for full completion by early 2027. The project is also expected to create several hundred direct jobs during the building phase and support additional employment in logistics and related services once operational.
With the new direct Asia routes now in service and major expansion underway, Callao is positioned to maintain its role as Peru’s primary maritime trade gateway while handling increased cargo flows from the Asia-Pacific region in the coming years.
