AAPA LATAM 2026 in Guatemala: Port Congress with 700 Delegates

Guatemala will host AAPA LATAM 2026, one of the main forums for the maritime and port industry in Latin America, at a time when the region's ports face the challenge of adapting to a new configuration of international trade marked by the relocation of supply chains, the digitalization of operations, and the pressure to increase their logistical competitiveness.

From December 1 to 4, Guatemala City will bring together more than 700 representatives from port authorities, governments, logistics operators, terminals, multilateral organizations, technology companies, and investors to analyze the impact that artificial intelligence, energy transition, new trade corridors, and supply chain resilience will have on port development in Latin America.

The 2026 edition of the congress, organized by AAPA LATAM together with the Designated Authority of the National Port System of Guatemala and PR PORTS, will mark the return of the event to the Central American country after 14 years. The choice of venue coincides with the transformation process that the Guatemalan port system is undergoing and with the growing role of Central America within international trade routes.

For Zulma Dinelli, General Director of the Congress, the venue was selected due to the current situation of the country in port matters. "Each edition of AAPA LATAM begins with a strategic decision: choosing the best place to discuss the future of the industry. We look for countries that are undergoing transformation processes and that can enrich the regional conversation. Guatemala meets these conditions: it combines a privileged geostrategic location, an ongoing port modernization agenda, and a clear vocation to strengthen its logistical integration."

The agenda of the meeting will address issues related to technological innovation, port governance, infrastructure, connectivity, and cooperation between the public and private sectors, under the premise that the competitiveness of ports no longer depends solely on expanding their installed capacity, but also on responding to an increasingly dynamic commercial environment.

In this context, Guatemala will take advantage of the forum to present the progress of its port modernization strategy. Leonel Molina, General Director of the Designated Authority of the National Port System of Guatemala, pointed out that the Congress will allow sharing with the international community "the progress of the port reform that Guatemala is experiencing."

Among the initiatives are the future General Port System Law, the creation of a National Port Authority, and various projects to strengthen the operational capacity of Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomás de Castilla, and the Puerto Barrios Railway Terminal, in addition to investments to improve the country's land and rail connectivity.

Molina even anticipated that AAPA LATAM 2026 could become the stage to announce the approval of Guatemala's first General Port System Law and the eventual creation of the National Port Authority derived from that legislation. "We hope to be able to announce during the Congress the approval of the first General Port System Law and, if time permits, present the first National Port Authority derived from that regulation," he affirmed.

In addition to the technical conferences, the meeting will include business meetings, a specialized exhibition, and a technical visit to Puerto Quetzal, activities that will complement the exchange of experiences between authorities, port operators, and companies linked to the regional logistics chain.