Colombia seeks to ease Buenaventura congestion as 110,000 empty containers pile up

Colombia’s government is working with port operators, trucking companies and cargo owners to address Buenaventura port congestion, as an estimated 110,000 empty containers have accumulated across the country’s main Pacific port district, creating difficulties for truck movements and terminal access.

Transport Minister Elsa Noguera warned on November 11 that the imbalance between incoming and outgoing containers had become a major logistical challenge. According to the minister, only one container leaves Buenaventura for every four that enter, contributing to the growing accumulation of empty equipment.

Buenaventura handles approximately 42% of Colombia’s international trade cargo, according to the Ministry of Transport, making the efficiency of its port operations and inland connections particularly important to the country’s foreign trade.

Container imbalance puts pressure on port access

The accumulation of empty containers has added to existing road-access problems in Buenaventura, where trucks must navigate connections between terminals, container depots and inland transport corridors.

Noguera said the government needs to accelerate the removal of the containers to ease congestion and improve cargo movements.

During a two-day visit, the minister met with representatives of port operators, transport associations, cargo owners, businesses and local authorities to identify operational bottlenecks and coordinate measures to improve access to the terminals.

The discussions focused on accelerating the movement of empty containers, reducing traffic congestion and improving coordination across the logistics chain.

The ministry did not specify how the 110,000 containers are distributed among port terminals, external depots and other facilities in Buenaventura. It also did not announce a deadline for clearing the accumulated equipment.

Government seeks coordinated response to Buenaventura port congestion

The latest meetings follow earlier government measures aimed at addressing difficulties with empty-container returns and depot operations.

In February, Colombia’s Transport Ministry and Transport Superintendency introduced mandatory measures requiring empty-container depots in Buenaventura to operate around the clock.

Those measures also called for an immediate evacuation plan for containers stored at external depots, daily reporting of empty-container movements and verifiable plans to reduce congestion.

The latest figures underscore the continued importance of coordinating container reception, storage and removal across the port district.

During the November visit, government representatives also toured Buenaventura’s inner harbor to review operations at Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Buenaventura and Aguadulce, as well as Muelle 13, which the ministry said is expected to enter service.

Road projects target port access bottlenecks

The government is also advancing road infrastructure projects intended to improve freight movements in and around Buenaventura.

Work has begun on widening the city’s Alternate Internal Road, an important access corridor serving the port area.

According to the Transport Ministry, the project includes improvements along 10 kilometers of road, with 6.5 kilometers of new dual-carriageway infrastructure.

Construction has also started on a 10-hectare truck staging area in El Jordán, designed to accommodate approximately 350 tractor-trailers awaiting access to port terminals.

The broader road program includes rehabilitation work along the Simón Bolívar corridor and improvements to the Buga–Buenaventura highway, which connects the port district with Colombia’s interior.

The government said construction is underway across all 21 sections of the Buga–Buenaventura project, with completion targeted for February 2028.

Additional measures include a planned agreement with the National Police’s Traffic and Transportation Directorate to strengthen traffic management along the Alternate Internal Road.

The ministry also announced that the National Roads Institute’s #767 information service, which provides road-condition updates and allows users to report emergencies, is scheduled to resume on November 29.

Empty-container removal remains a key challenge

The government said recent improvements along the Buga–Buenaventura corridor have helped reduce road blockades and improve freight mobility.

However, the accumulation of empty equipment remains a separate operational challenge requiring coordination among shipping lines, depot operators, trucking companies and port authorities.

The latest government discussions aim to establish measures that will accelerate container movements and improve the flow of trucks to and from port terminals.

For now, the ministry has not detailed how quickly the accumulated containers can be removed or established measurable targets for reducing the backlog.

The effectiveness of the response will depend on progress in both equipment management and inland transport access, two closely connected elements of Buenaventura’s role as Colombia’s principal Pacific trade gateway.

Source: Colombia’s Ministry of Transport

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