Chile's northern ports face congestion due to Bolivia road blockades

Road blockades in Bolivia have disrupted land routes used to move cargo between the landlocked country and Chile, causing severe congestion at northern Chilean ports. At the Iquique Terminal, the port authority activated a contingency plan that includes a temporary 10,000‑square‑metre container storage area to keep the flow of trade moving.

At the Port of Arica, operators reported high yard occupancy after more than 40 days of blockades, prompting the suspension of cargo de‑consolidation and the search for extra‑port facilities. Both ports are coordinating with customs agencies in Chile and Bolivia, as well as shipping lines and logistics players, to mitigate the backlog and restore normal cargo movements.