In order to improve service levels and productivity of container operations in the area, the company will invest $250 million in new infrastructure.
The development of the new Puerto Quetzal Container Terminal will be implemented in two phases. In phase one, it will invest $120 million to build 300 metres of pier with a depth of 12.5 metres and yard area of 13 hectares. The second phase will involve the yard extension of up to 21 hectares and 540 metres of pier with a depth of 14 metres. The infrastructure will include four STS gantry cranes, a mobile harbour crane and twelve RTGs.
With the launch of the Puerto Quetzal Container Terminal, Grup TCB strengthens its presence as a leader in container terminal management, specialising in the optimisation of resources to increase the capacity of terminals which it operates. TCQ is the company’s twelfth terminal subsidiary, and the fifth in the Americas. After TCBuen (Colombia), it will be the second Grup TCB terminal on the Pacific coast.
Quetzal: a strategic port for East Asia and the US West Coast routes
Located in the municipality of San José, in the Guatemalan department of Escuintla, the Port of Quetzal started shipping activities in 1983. Thanks to its location between East Asia and the west coast of America it has developed a strategic logistics infrastructure. According to the Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean, in the first half of 2012, the Port of Quetzal moved 150,799 TEUs. With this operation the Quetzal Port Authority seeks to increase the port’s competitiveness and increase the volume of cargo in line with the sustained growth of the economy in recent years.
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Guatemala grew by 3% in 2012. According to forecasts of the Monetary Board of this Central American country, the growth will be 3.9% this year, a rate that has been already achieved in 2011. Maritime trade is an important engine for the development of the country and the main mode of transportation for import and export of products such as sugar or coffee. Additionally, Guatemala is a country bordering Mexico, an emerging power that grew by 4% in 2012.
According to Xavier Soucheiron, CEO of Grup TCB, “To incorporate this port in Guatemala to our portfolio will allow us to expand our business with large shipping companies in East Asia and the US west coast. We are very satisfied with this agreement, which represents a further step in our consolidation as a global leader in container terminals and efficient management of port infrastructure”.
Juan Jose Suarez, Director General of TCQ, says: “The experience of Grup TCB in improving the performance at port terminals, as it can be observed at its subsidiary in Colombia, is the main strength that will significantly increase TCQ´s cargo capacity at such a strategic location as Puerto Quetzal”.