Buenos Aires province unveils five-year plan for La Plata port, targets multipurpose expansion

Buenos Aires province on Wednesday (11) presented a five-year development plan for the Port of La Plata, the first in a series of provincial port plans that officials said will be rolled out this year across the province’s public terminals.

Production, Science and Technological Innovation Minister Augusto Costa led the presentation alongside Ensenada Mayor Mario Secco, Berisso Mayor Fabian Cagliardi, La Plata port chief Susana Gonzalez, provincial ports official Juan Cruz Lucero and La Plata’s production and innovation secretary Mercedes La Gioiosa.

“The five-year plan for the Port of La Plata is the first of eight we will present this year and, as we have seen, it sets a short- and medium-term roadmap,” Costa said. He said the planning effort is closely tied to the presence and role of the state, contrasting it with what he called a national government that is “abandoning its responsibilities.”

Officials said the five-year plans are part of Governor Axel Kicillof’s provincial port policy and reflect five years of management, with the aim of aligning the system’s development with criteria and guidelines set by the provincial executive.

Authorities said the planning framework covers investment in infrastructure, institutional strengthening, productive development, modernization and sustainability, links with local communities, a gender perspective, and fluvial-maritime “sovereignty” with a geostrategic outlook.

From 2020 to 2025, the province advanced a broad push for infrastructure investment, both public and private, officials said. On the public side, the provincial government focused on improving road and logistics connectivity, paving 1,552 kilometers of routes and corridors and investing in 1,500 kilometers of rural roads, according to the presentation.

Provincial ports also tripled their infrastructure spending as a share of revenue between 2020 and 2025, rising to 11% from 4%, with 453 works totaling more than $72 million, excluding dredging, officials said.

Improved operating conditions encouraged new private investment inside port areas, with 53 private infrastructure works executed over the same period totaling $695 million, according to the officials.

The combination of public and private investment helped strengthen operating capacity across the provincial port system, authorities said. In 2025, public ports posted record throughput of 969,000 TEUs and 57.9 million tonnes, according to the presentation.

Officials also cited logistics and traffic-management plans carried out in ports and municipalities to improve the safety and efficiency of port operations.

On productive development and modernization, officials said port land area increased by more than 700 hectares between 2020 and 2025, a 5.5% expansion of total surface area, aimed at expanding operating zones and facilitating new investment.

They also said operating capacity rose as 39 inactive vessels were removed, increasing available berthing frontage by 14% to 2,792 meters and improving efficiency.

On workforce development, officials said more than 1,200 people graduated from professional training programs between 2020 and 2025, with 117 courses focused on port activity, logistics and related productive sectors. The courses were aimed at port workers and residents of surrounding areas.

In that context, the Port of La Plata presented its 2025-2029 plan, which officials said aims to turn the complex into a multipurpose port by adding new activities, improving administrative efficiency, digitizing processes and carrying out works to boost logistics competitiveness.

One pillar of the plan is internal modernization of the port consortium through the digitization of procedures, integration of administrative systems and development of a new online portal for suppliers and users. The plan also includes work on quality and environmental standards, with references to certifications such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

Infrastructure is another key component, with proposed measures including strengthening rail and river access, improving operational safety conditions, leveraging road connectivity and assessing new works, including the possible addition of berths to expand capacity.

Representatives from Agencia Marea, Tecplata, YPF and Camuzzi attended the event, along with local union leaders and port workers, officials said.

Source: Buenos Aires Province 

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