Chilean ports moved 40% of Bolivia's exports in 2012

Date: 2013/02/18

The Bolivian economy achieved a record in exports in 2012. According to the Bolivian Foreign Trade Institute, made sales of U.S. $ 11,589 million, an increase of 27% over the previous year.

In this, Chilean ports of Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta and Mejillones played an important role, under the Treaty of 1904 to facilitate foreign trade of that country.

In fact, Bolivia Exporters Chamber estimated that nearly 40% of the value of the operations (U.S. $ 4,600 million) made during the last year was mobilized by these terminals.

Transit cargo, which adds exports and imports, by region of Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá and Antofagasta in 2012 reached 2,855,748 tons.

The General Secretary of Customs of Chile, Fabian Villarroel said the overall increase in these operations respect to 2011 was 7%. According to the service, Iquique had an increase of 77% over the previous 12 months.

Empresa Portuaria Iquique (EPI) point out cargo transference to and from Bolivia grew by 312% over the past decade.

In Arica, the total cargo transferred by the terminal of the city, more than 70% comes from the highland country.

General manager (s) of the Concessionary Terminal Puerto Arica (TPA), Sergio Figueroa, said there 103 000 tonnes of Bolivian products are stored for free.

Tourists and residents of northern regions daily note the priority given by Chile to trade with that country. They note the incessant flow of trucks moving to and from Bolivia by international roads in those areas.

Only through the international route CH 11 in Region XV (Arica and Parinacota), annual traffic of cargo vehicles coming from that country rose from 34,000 in 2006 to 150,000 in 2012, with an average 410 trucks daily.

Chilean businessman Gabriel Abusleme, long experience in foreign trade, highlights that Bolivian companies have positive discrimination in respect of their peers and only pay for Chilean port operations such as loading and unloading trucks or container deconsolidation, operations in which VAT is deducted.

The port of Arica developed two projects to absorb increased Bolivian cargo. The first will be an outer harbor allowing up to 240 trucks a day to park while they wait to terminal input.

In Arica will be enabled a Zone Extension Port Activity, where customs and duties made nationalization of merchandise, which will accelerate the delivery of the goods to their final destinations. Both operate at 12 km from the city, in the valley of Lluta, and is expected that the first will be operating by the end of this year.

Moreover, the resumption of cargo operations of Arica-La Paz railway will absorb 250,000 tons a year, most of which correspond to goods that use the route- Viacha-Chañara then spliced in Chilean soil, with the stretch Visviri- Arica. The recovery of this axis will decongest the route Tambo Quemado-Chungará.

Since 2009, Chile had facilities (warehouses, offices and other) to facilitate Bolivian cargo traffic in the town of Alto Hospicio, in Tarapacá.

But that infrastructure has not yet been occupied by Bolivian companies thus explains the technical manager of the Chamber of Exporters of Santa Cruz (Bolivia), Rafael Riva, goods through the port of Iquique has a immediate dispatch. He doesn’t rule out that Bolivian entrepreneurs begin to use it, given the growth of its economy.

Up to 650 km from La Paz to leave for Peru

Bolivia also used for foreign trade by Pacific Ocean, Peruvian ports such as Ilo and Matarani, which together cast mobilize around 750 000 tonnes in 2012. However, their participation has been secondary to the Chilean terminals.

Matarani and Ilo are located, respectively, 500 and 650 km from La Paz, the Bolivian capital. In practical terms, that means a rise in cargo rates, as they must spend more on fuel and driving hours. In contrast, the path to Arica is 440 km.

Source: MundoMaritimo