• 3 min de lectura
• 3 min de lectura
In the context of the preparation of bidding processes in Chilean ports such as Valparaíso, Iquique, San Antonio, and San Vicente (Talcahuano), the Agunsa group does not rule out participating in the search for a concession, but in the central zone.
Currently, the aforementioned company manages Terminal 2 of the Port of Valparaíso through its subsidiary Terminal Portuario de Valparaíso (TPV), whose operating contract expires in 2029.
In this regard, PortalPortuario spoke with Beltrán Urenda, director of the Agunsa Group and president of Compañía Marítima Chilena (CMC), who addressed the current situation of the port terminals managed by the company and its eventual participation in the upcoming bidding processes.
When asked about the performance of the maritime stations concessioned by Agunsa from January to May 2026, Urenda stated that it has been a difficult period, conditioned by the international geopolitical situation.
"I would say these are complicated times. The maritime industry, on which our activity depends, is going through a difficult moment with the international geopolitical situation, the concentration of large shipping companies into a few players, and the fact that they are vertically integrating with the entire logistics chain," he noted.
Regarding competition issues, Beltrán Urenda maintained that "with that scenario, it becomes increasingly difficult for players who are not as large, compared to others, to compete. It's complicated, but Agunsa is a company with a great capacity for reinvestment."
Regarding the upcoming concession tenders, the Agunsa board member anticipated that the company would lean towards concentrating its port operations in the state facilities of the central zone of Chile, i.e., Valparaíso and San Antonio, ruling out - for the moment - an eventual participation in San Vicente (Talcahuano).
"Agunsa does not rule out participating. I would say more in the ports of the central zone. In the southern zone, we are in private ports with another related company, Cabo Froward, where we have a presence in Calbuco and in the Bio Bio Region. We do not rule out being (San Antonio). San Vicente seems more difficult to me, but no one knows what will happen," Urenda pointed out.
The head of the CMC also referred to the debate taking place in the Tribunal de Defensa de la Libre Competencia (TDLC), where the Empresa Portuaria de Valparaíso (EPV) requested a report regarding a potential single operation of terminals 1 and 2 of the port; an instance where different actors have expressed their concern about a possible exclusion of general cargo in favor of containers.
Regarding this situation, Urenda stated that "that is something we don't like, and we pointed out the inconveniences at the time. We have indicated that Valparaíso is the main port for general cargo in the country, specifically, Terminal 2, which is where Agunsa is, but that battle has already been fought."
"I don't think it's a good idea; I would try to ensure that when the tenders are carried out, there is a requirement to preserve the general cargo portion for Terminal 2, hopefully that will be the case, but we don't know what will happen," he concluded.
