Peru positions itself as Latin America’s emerging maritime innovation hub at AAPA Latam 2025
Peru is gearing up to host one of the most significant gatherings in the Latin American maritime sector, the AAPA Latam 2025 Congress, taking place from June 24 to 27 in Lima. This flagship event, organised by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) in collaboration with Peru’s Autoridad Portuaria Nacional (APN), will attract over 600 international leaders, government officials, and executives from top ports and maritime companies worldwide. The congress aims to serve as a platform for discussing the future of port infrastructure, logistics, and sustainable development across the continent.
This congress comes at a pivotal moment as Peru is increasingly recognised as a burgeoning logistics and port hub on South America's South Pacific coast. The country has undergone significant reforms and strategic investments over the last two decades to enhance its port infrastructure and capabilities. Highlighting this transformation, the recently inaugurated Port of Chancay by Cosco Shipping exemplifies Peru's ambitions. Located 70 kilometres from Lima, the port boasts the capacity to handle mega-ships of up to 24,000 TEUs, which is poised to revolutionise maritime logistics in the region by opening new trade routes and reducing logistics costs for international trade players.
The Peruvian port system is already a crucial economic driver, consisting of around 60 public and private maritime and fluvial terminals. In 2024 alone, these terminals managed 3.5 million TEUs — a more than 300% increase over the past 21 years. This growth underscores the country’s rising importance in global trade. Key ports like Callao now have the capacity to handle over 4 million TEUs, placing them among the most competitive in South America.
AAPA Latam 2025’s comprehensive agenda includes conference sessions covering vital topics such as port investment, energy transition, digital transformation, and resilient infrastructure. The event also features an exclusive trade exhibition, networking opportunities, and technical visits to significant port terminals in Callao and Chancay. These site visits grant participants firsthand insight into Peru's port capabilities and future projects, enhancing opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and partnership building across the sector.
This congress is a strategic opportunity for Peru to showcase the leadership achieved by its key port terminals in driving sustainability and innovation. For instance, Puerto de Paracas, awarded the prestigious Green Port Award System by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) for its environmental stewardship, exemplifies the country’s commitment to merging infrastructure development with responsible environmental practices. Puerto de Paracas alone has invested over USD 240 million in infrastructure, with further investments on the horizon.
Other major investment stories include Euroandinos Port Terminals, which handles over 40% of Peru’s refrigerated cargo exports and is poised to exceed USD 100 million in investments by 2029 to meet the growing demands of northern Peru. The Terminal Internacional del Sur (Tisur) operator has also contributed to local development through public works projects in the Islay province, investing about 40 million Soles to benefit sectors such as health, education, and transportation.
Industry leaders from Peru acknowledge the importance of this congress. César Rojas Álvaro, General Manager of Puerto de Paracas, highlighted that hosting the event reaffirms Peru’s role as a vital regional logistics hub. Similarly, Mauricio Núñez del Prado Eguiluz of Terminal Internacional del Sur emphasised the event’s role in fostering exchange among suppliers, clients, and competitors. Carlos Arias de Molina, CEO of APM Terminals Callao, underscored the congress’s potential to demonstrate commitment to efficiency, sustainability, and innovation on a global stage. Gonzalo Ríos Polastri, Deputy General Manager of Cosco Shipping Ports Chancay, noted the congress as an excellent opportunity for reflection on infrastructure development and community interaction.
Registration details indicate access to a full programme, including conferences, exhibitions, meals, social events, and the highly anticipated technical visits, with fees designed to facilitate broad participation from AAPA members, non-members, and sponsors.
Peru’s hosting of AAPA Latam 2025 marks a defining moment in Latin America’s port sector. It not only highlights the country’s infrastructural advancements but also underlines its emerging status as a regional leader in sustainable logistics innovation and global maritime commerce.