Vehicle Congestion at Port of Montevideo Prompts Use of Former Rail Yard

Vehicle congestion at the Port of Montevideo has prompted Uruguay’s National Ports Administration (ANP) to seek additional storage space as a surge in automobile imports and transit cargo strains the port’s available capacity. Customs authorities have authorized the temporary use of a former railway yard operated by the State Railways Administration (AFE) to accommodate vehicles unloaded at the terminal.

The authorization will remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2026, and was granted on an exceptional, temporary and revocable basis, according to a customs resolution reported by Uruguayan newspaper El País.

The measure comes as approximately 14,000 vehicles are expected to arrive in Montevideo aboard around 10 specialized vessels between early October and early November. The incoming cargo includes automobiles from China and Europe, many of them electric vehicles.

Recent vessel calls illustrate the scale of the increase. The Heroic Ace arrived on Oct. 15 carrying 2,231 vehicles, including approximately 1,600 Tesla cars, according to port sources cited by El País.

The Grande Melbourne, operated by Grimaldi Lines, also arrived with approximately 1,800 vehicles. Another Grimaldi vessel, the Grande Oriente, is expected on Nov. 5 with 3,231 vehicles, including around 1,150 BYD cars.

Port of Montevideo Faces Storage and Operational Constraints

The increase in vehicle traffic has created difficulties for the ANP, particularly in allocating sufficient space for cars awaiting customs clearance or onward transportation to other South American markets.

According to the port administration, the problem extends beyond storage capacity. A shortage of specialized car carrier trucks has also limited the movement of vehicles to off-dock facilities, slowing the turnover of available space within the port.

The ANP requested authorization to use the former AFE rail yard on Oct. 15, citing the exceptional increase in vehicle arrivals and the resulting operational safety concerns.

The authority has also prepared additional areas near the port’s northern access and in Capurro while considering other storage alternatives, including facilities in Punta de Sayago.

ANP President Pablo Genta acknowledged the difficulties during an Oct. 15 maritime and port industry seminar in Uruguay’s Parliament, noting that the port was preparing for a particularly high volume of vehicle arrivals in October and November.

ANP board member Jorge Gandini also warned that the shortage of space and available berths had left some vehicle carriers waiting outside the port.

The temporary expansion of storage space is intended to relieve pressure on Montevideo’s existing facilities while allowing imports and regional transit operations to continue.

Sources: El País Uruguay

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