Puerto de Iquique cargo volumes rise 4% in first half, hitting record tonnage

Empresa Portuaria Iquique (EPI) reported that the Puerto de Iquique moved 1,738,135 tonnes of cargo between January and June 2026, a 4% increase over the same period in 2025. Container handling reached 224,097 TEUs, up 7% year‑on‑year, while the number of vessels serviced grew to 185, a 6% rise.

Growth was strongest in automotive cargo (+58%), project/fractionated cargo (+41%) and bulk cargo (+17%). Exports climbed 31% and imports improved by 3%. Trade with Bolivia continued to lag, falling 14% and dragging overall container volumes from the landlocked neighbor down 3%, but cargo destined for other markets surged 115% and showed a 3% recovery in June. General manager Rubén Castro Hurtado highlighted operational adjustments, including additional space for the concessionaire, to mitigate the Bolivian slowdown and sustain the port’s performance.