International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) said that its Ecuador operation, Contecon Guayaquil S.A., has facilitated the inaugural call of COSCO Shipping’s Asia-Central and South America 5 (WSA5) service late last month.
This marks the WSA5 service’s first direct shipping connection between Ecuador and Asia via the Port of Chancay in Peru, considered a “highpoint” in Ecuador’s foreign trade, the company said in a statement.
The WSA5 service includes calls at ports in Dalian, Ningbo, Shanghai, and Qingdao in China, as well as Ensenada, Manzanillo, and Lázaro Cárdenas in Mexico, before calling at Buenaventura, Colombia; Guayaquil, Ecuador; and Chancay, Peru.
From there, the service makes its way back to Shanghai and Dalian, completing a trade loop between Latin America and Asia.
“The WSA5 service offers a streamlined route that enables cargo to reach Shanghai in just 27 days—an improvement over existing routes with longer transit times,” ICTSI said.
“With a stop in Chancay, the service provides a faster, more cost-effective, and more reliable option for Ecuadorian exports, including bananas and shrimp, to Asia,” it added.
ICTSI said the new service strengthens the Port of Guayaquil’s position as Ecuador’s gateway to the world.
“With direct access to one of the largest consumer markets, Contecon Guayaquil is unlocking new growth opportunities for Ecuadorian exporters,” it said.
“This service brings together millions of people, businesses, and projects in a record time of just 27 days and 27 minutes. The 27 minutes correspond to the average time it takes for transport vehicles to complete their transactions at the terminal,” meanwhile said Javier Lancha, Contecon Guayaquil chief executive officer (CEO).
Lancha said the service supports Ecuador’s “broader trade goals, leveraging the country’s Free Trade Agreement with China to boost exports.”
In March 2007, ICTSI was awarded by the port authority of Guayaquil, Autoridad Portuario de Guayaquil (APG) a 20-year operating concession for the Container and Multipurpose Terminals in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Later in May, a contract was formally signed between APG and Contecon Guayaquil SA, ICTSI’s local operating unit. The terminal handles containerized, general and bulk cargo.
