On the Chilean coastline on the east coast of the Pacific Ocean, a port revolution is brewing at the Port of San Antonio. The first round of bidding for the expansion of the outer port has started, and a semi automated terminal and kilometer long breakwater will be built in this South American shipping gateway, reshaping the logistics pattern of the Pacific trade channel.

The bidding for the offshore port project has been launched

Recently, EPSA, the port company of San Antonio, Chile, launched the first round of bidding for the expansion of the outer port, and this $4.4 billion major port project has entered the implementation stage. This bidding is for the design and construction of the North South Link Road, and the first phase has received $50 million in financing from the Latin American Development Bank.

EPSA will optimize its bidding strategy in July 2026, separating the early infrastructure and breakwater bidding to accelerate project progress. The first round of bidding is open to domestic and foreign engineering enterprises, and the bidding documents will be issued from October 13 to November 12, 2026. The chairman of EPSA stated that they are implementing follow-up financing and preparing for a special tender for the breakwater.

The port planning volume is considerable

The expansion of San Antonio Outer Harbor is a national level infrastructure project in Chile, aimed at enhancing foreign trade logistics and the unloading capacity of large vessels. The project plans to construct two semi automated container terminals, with a single shoreline of 1730 meters, and supporting projects such as a 4-kilometer breakwater and harbor dredging. After completion, the project has an annual throughput capacity of 6 million TEUs and can accommodate 8 400 meter class ships simultaneously. The total investment is 4.45 billion US dollars, adopting a public-private partnership investment model; The first phase is expected to be put into operation in 2036, with an initial production capacity of 1.5 million TEUs.

Consolidate the South American shipping gateway

San Antonio Port is a core port for foreign trade in Chile, expanded to cope with the growth of container freight and fill the gaps in port facilities. Under the trend of large-scale ships, projects are upgrading their supporting systems such as berths, waterways, and collection and distribution. The implementation of the project will enhance the logistics strength in central Chile and improve the competitiveness of South American Pacific shipping. This bidding also brings opportunities to the South American market for international ports and dredging infrastructure enterprises.Editor/Gong Ziwei