The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe or CEPAL) has voted Puerto Cortés operated by Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana (OPC), the Honduran subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), as the best maritime terminal in the Central America-4 (CA-4) region and 24th best in Latin America.

Puerto Cortés operated by Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana (OPC), the Honduran subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI)
Puerto Cortés operated by Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana (OPC), the Honduran subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI)

Container cargo movement at OPC grew 4.5 percent in 2018 over the previous year, CEPAL noted in its 2018 Port Rankings released recently.

Mariano Turnes, OPC chief executive officer, said that the recent port rankings perfectly underscore ICTSI’s commitment towards the development of Honduras’ largest port, and its crucial role in advancing the CA-4 economies:  “Puerto Cortés is an example of what can be achieved through a public-private partnership and with the support of ICTSI, one of the world’s leading box port operators. The investments made by OPC, which amounts to more than US$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.”

He adds: "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.”

In 2018, ICTSI completed its US$145 million Pier 6 greenfield development for OPC, which represents the first phase of expansion work in Puertos Cortes. More 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.

Across the region, container throughput in Latin America and Caribbean ports increased by 7.7 percent in 2018 in comparison with the previous year, according to the same report. Total volume in 2018 exceeded 53.2 million TEUs, which represents 7.1 percent of global throughput, marking a slight increase in the rate versus the previous year. 

CEPAL, which publishes the port rankings annually, covers 31 countries and 118 ports in Latin and Central America.