Puerto Cabello faces logistical strain following Venezuelan earthquakes

Venezuela's logistics and customs sectors are facing significant operational challenges following earthquakes on June 24 that caused a collapse at the Port of La Guaira. This event forced a massive diversion of cargo to Puerto Cabello, which has had to operate at double its usual capacity. The surge has led to container accumulation, exacerbated by technological delays, a lack of machinery, and frequent electricity failures in the Carabobo state.

Gretsy Marín, president of the Association of Freight and Customs Agencies of Venezuela (Asocav), projects that import growth for 2026 will remain low, likely under 2%, though it could reach 3% to 4% if trade dynamizes in the final months of the year. Marín emphasized the urgent need to modernize 20th-century customs laws to streamline personal imports and door-to-door shipments. Additionally, the sector has seen a sharp decline in customs agents, dropping from approximately 3,000 a decade ago to 800 today.