Starting from Lima, the capital of Peru, driving north along the Pan American Highway for about 80 kilometers, as more and more container trucks were on the road, the reporter arrived at the destination of the trip, Qiankai Port.
Unloading electronic products from China here and loading fresh Peruvian blueberries over there… Under the winter fog of the southern hemisphere, automated remote control shore cranes, intelligent driving container trucks, automated track cranes and other port machinery equipment are working tirelessly, efficiently handling cargo loading and unloading operations under the coordination of the terminal production operating system.
In early June, Peruvian President Borualte personally issued an operating license for the Qiankai Port, marking the official launch of this South American first smart green port into regular operation. In the trial operation stage of more than half a year, this key project of the “the Belt and Road” jointly built by China and Peru has played an initial role in promoting Peru’s economy and employment, as well as the overall economic and trade cooperation between Asia and Latin America.
The growth in transportation demand is even faster than we expected, “said He Bo, Executive Deputy General Manager of Peru Qiankai Port, a subsidiary of COSCO Shipping Group. In the first five months of this year, Qiankai Port’s container throughput reached 94400 TEUs, 626900 tons of bulk and roll on/roll off cargo.
The direct flight route from Qiankai to Shanghai has significantly shortened the sea freight time from South America to Asia, from about 33 days to 23 days, and reduced logistics costs by about 20%. On June 28th, the first batch of Peruvian blueberries for the 2025-2026 season were transported to Shanghai via this sea freight express, allowing fresh Peruvian fruits to be placed on the dining tables of Chinese consumers. In the view of David Gamara, Consul General of Peru in Shanghai, the Qiankai Port has brought new opportunities to promote the export of Peruvian agricultural products.
Also taking the ‘Sea Express’ is the fishing industry. Peru is the world’s largest exporter of fishmeal and also the largest source of imported fishmeal for China. The latest data shows that in April of this year, Peru’s fishery exports accounted for about 6.5% of total exports, with a significant increase in export value. Among them, fishmeal exports contributed the largest growth rate, with a year-on-year increase of 605.3%.
At the same time, high-quality Chinese products such as automobiles, photovoltaic modules, and electronic devices are also arriving in Peru more quickly. According to COSCO Shipping, an average of one roll on/roll off ship has arrived at the port every month since its opening. Sometimes, one ship can carry seven to eight hundred Chinese cars, and sometimes three to four hundred.
For importers, higher logistics efficiency and lower logistics costs can bring significant competitive advantages. After the opening of Qiankai Port, Peru’s Durama Home Appliances company recognized this business opportunity and immediately chose to transport goods through Qiankai Port.
In the past, when we imported home appliances from China, it took about 50 days from shipment to pickup, “said Myra Vilika, the foreign trade director of the company. After choosing Qiankai Port, the sea freight and cargo departure time were greatly shortened, usually taking 30 to 35 days to pick up the goods. This helps us reduce costs, thereby lowering the final selling price and increasing the market share of our main products, including refrigerators, from about 15% in the middle of last year to nearly 50% today, “she said.
It is reported that the first phase of the Qiankai Port project will bring Peru an annual income of 4.5 billion US dollars and create over 8000 direct employment opportunities. According to Cesar Cacho, the head of community relations at Qiankai Port, the port has employed more than 600 workers from various parts of Peru, many of whom have become smart dock talents after professional training. With the continuous growth of Qiankai Port’s business volume, the port will recruit and cultivate more excellent Peruvian labor force.
At present, Qiankai Port has opened three main routes, including the Qiankai Shanghai two-way trunk line, as well as six routes including the North Panama branch line, the North Chile branch line, and the South Chile branch line, directly radiating to neighboring countries such as Colombia, Chile, and Ecuador.
Starting from February this year, Ecuadorian banana exports will be transshipped through the port of Chancay in Peru and can be delivered to China in just 27 days. According to data from the Ecuadorian Banana Sales and Export Association, Ecuadorian banana exports to China increased by 45.56% from January to May 2025.
In the view of historian Luis Vasquez from the National University of San Marcos in Peru, the port of Chancay will become a new regional hub for the development of Latin America. I believe that Qiankai Port will continue to drive the prosperity of neighboring countries like the Inca Trail, “said Vasquez.