Port of Montevideo sets record for container throughput in first half of 2024

The Port of Montevideo in Uruguay recorded a notable increase in container throughput in the first half of 2024, with a 12% year-on-year growth.

The National Ports Administration (ANP) reported that some 581,635 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) were handled in the first six months of this year, compared to 520,017 TEUs in the same period last year. This represents an increase of 61,618 TEUs year-on-year.

The growth is even more significant when compared to the first quarter of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, when 359,410 TEUs were handled, marking a 62% increase.

The operations include export, import, and the transfer of goods between containers, conducted at the Cuenca del Plata Terminal (partly owned by the Belgian multinational Katoen Natie) and in public areas primarily operated by Montecon.

Montevideo Port has just completed three consecutive years of record cargo throughput. In 2021, it handled 978,069 TEUs, a record at the time. This increase amounted to 1,084,812 TEUs in 2022 and 1,120,000 TEUs in 2023.

The growth in operations is attributed to the recurrence of cargo transfers originating from Paraguay, given that most of the country relies on Uruguay to access the international market.

To gain a competitive edge against its main competitor, Buenos Aires, ANP aims to deepen MontMontevideo’sess to 14 meters. After years of dispute, the River Plate Administrative Commission (CARP) authorized the dredging in January, fulfilling a long-standing aspiration of local authorities. A deeper depth will allow larger container ships to dock, potentially attracting more regional trade.

The following chart compares container exports and imports at the Port of Montevideo between January 2021 and May 2024. The chart uses data derived from Datamar’s maritime intelligence service, DataLiner.

Uruguay Exports and Imports | Jan 2021 – May 2024 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

ANP Financial Performance

ANP also reported a historical high in first-semester revenue, at some reaching $99.8 million, up from $94.1 million in 2023. This represents a 6% year-on-year increase, compared to a 29.8% increase over the same period in 2019.

Sources consulted America Economía and Portal Portuario 

Sharing is caring!