Buenaventura imposes new cargo fees on port terminals

The Mayor's Office of Buenaventura has established a new charge of COP 4,235 per ton of cargo entering or leaving the district's port terminals, as defined in District Decree 0338. The local government defends the measure as a necessary source of revenue to finance road infrastructure and mitigate the impact of heavy traffic on urban roads.

The decision has faced significant opposition from transport associations, business guilds, and the Colombian Ministry of Transport. Critics argue the fee will increase logistics costs and harm the competitiveness of Buenaventura, which handles over 44% of Colombia's foreign trade. Analdex estimates that approximately US$27 billion in foreign trade operations could be exposed to these new costs, with annual surcharges potentially ranging between COP 86 billion and COP 91 billion.

Key sectors have expressed concern, including the National Federation of Coffee Growers, noting that 60.2% of coffee exports pass through Buenaventura's terminals. The Ministry of Transport stated that the district needs investment and development rather than additional barriers. Ongoing debates focus on the implementation mechanisms of the charge and ensuring that the collected funds are effectively used for road improvements.