Central America’s largest port continues to grow

By Bufete Mejía & Asociados

Located in the north Caribbean coast of Honduras, Puerto Cortés is the largest port in Central America in terms of volume of traffic, recently named the best maritime terminal in the Central America-4 (CA-4) region and 24th best in Latin America by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) 2018 Port Rankings.

Operated since 2013 by Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana (OPC), the Honduran subsidiary of Philippine International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI), Puerto Cortés has completed a USD 145 million Pier 6 greenfield development, which represents the first phase of an expansion work. According to Mariano Turnes, OPC chief executive officer, ,ore large-scale projects are in the pipeline for the coming years, including the construction and expansion of the container yard and implementation of advanced port technologies for greater efficiency.

“Puerto Cortés is an example of what can be achieved through a public-private partnership. The investments made by OPC, which amounts to more than USD 250 million in infrastructure and technology, have contributed to the port’s efficiency and competitiveness, enabling higher productivity and safer operations based on international standards and competitive rates at the regional level”, said Turnes in a press release. "We have always believed in the region and in its potential.  We understand the development of logistics, and see the opportunity that can be offered for the benefit of Central American countries. We have a robust investment plan for the modernization and development of Puerto Cortés".