Buenaventura port cargo fee sparks opposition from Colombian business groups

Colombian business associations Fenavi and ANDI have expressed opposition to a new district decree in Buenaventura that imposes a fee of $4,235 per ton of cargo moved to and from port terminals.

Fenavi, the National Federation of Poultry Producers, warned that the measure could reduce the competitiveness of Buenaventura compared to other ports. Based on 2025 import data for yellow corn, soy, and soy cake, the federation estimated that the new tariff could have resulted in over $13,000 million in additional costs for those specific commodities.

Similarly, the National Association of Businessmen (ANDI) cautioned that the fee could increase logistics chain costs and impact national exports. ANDI estimates that with approximately 55,000 monthly cargo operations, the new charge could generate monthly overcosts of nearly $7,000 million, totaling roughly $84,000 million annually. The association noted that Buenaventura is a strategic hub, handling nearly 50% of Colombia's wheat imports and 32% of its corn and soy imports, suggesting that increased costs may eventually be passed down to consumers.