South American trade routes face infrastructure shifts and weather disruptions

Logistics and trade infrastructure are seeing significant shifts in South America. In Argentina, a new 25-year concession for the Paraná-Paraguay Waterway has commenced, managed by the consortium Vía Navegable Argentina, comprising the Belgian firm Jan De Nul and the local company Servimagnus. This new management includes a 13.5% reduction in tolls, dropping from US$4.30 to US$3.80, aimed at increasing the competitiveness of Argentine agro-industrial exports.

Meanwhile, the Los Libertadores mountain pass, a critical land connection between Chile and Argentina, faces operational challenges due to winter weather. The pass handles over 4.3 million tons of cargo and 1.5 million people annually. Recent closures caused by heavy snowfall resulted in a 34-day shutdown, creating a domino effect on supply chains, increasing transit times, and forcing companies to seek alternative routes and manage higher costs.