the belgian company Katoen Natie started work on the Port of Montevideo after the authorization of the government, with which a series of works will be carried out that will triple the operational capacitywithin the framework of a series of improvements.
Katoen Natie, who has the 80% of the Cuenca del Plata Terminal (TCP), while the twenty% remaining belongs to Uruguayan State, began today the tasks that contemplate an investment of about 600 million dollars and will generate about 1,500 jobs, in a port that appears as uncompetitive internationally.
The concession company started the works after the recent approval of the Ministry of Environment. Among other things, it will carry out the dredging at a depth of 17 meters, as well as a new container yard of about 22 hectares and a dock of more than 700 meters.
The estimated duration of the work is two years and a half. It is expected that once completed, in the beginning of 2026, the port of the capital will operate about 3 million containers, capacity similar to that of Buenos Aires, one of its main competitors.
In turn, the expansion of the wharf would allow them to operate up to four ships in unison, including the largest freighters in the world, which will facilitate a time optimization and provide better service.
It is also worth remembering that one of the objectives in Montevideo is to achieve the establishment of a green port for 2030, with eco-efficient machines, 100% electric cranes, electrical connection for ships in port to reduce greenhouse gases and reduce the carbon footprint.
It remains to be seen what will happen with the intention of increasing rates
Faced with these improvements, we will have to wait to see what happens with the rates of TCP, since Katoen Natie had announced an unconsulted increase of 24.1%, something that, amid criticism from exporters and hierarchs, the government decided stop and postpone for later, discussion included.
From the Executive They admit that an increase is viable, although the minister of Transport and Public Works, José Luis Falero, indicated at the time that there should be “within normal parameters”. The negotiation will not be easy, since in the business sector they want the rates not only not to increase, but also to reduce their value.
This is how he made it known at the time Facundo Márquez, president of the Union of Exporters of Uruguay (UEU), who recalled in dialogue with Ámbito.com that costs “give us three and a half times more expensive than ports that compete with us”, such as the cases of Chili and Brazil.
Regarding the Katoen Natie rate increase, he considered that this announcement “set off all the alarms”. In this sense, he added: “We have been meeting all the key players in the port to see how we lower rates and be more competitive, not for them to go up by any percentage”.
Source: Ambito
