APM Terminals Callao expands preparedness measures ahead of potential El Niño

· The mango, grape, blueberry, asparagus and seafood export seasons could coincide with the period of greatest climate-related and logistical pressure.

· APM Terminals Callao, operator of the North Terminal at the Port of Callao, is developing measures to address potential road disruptions, cargo surges and increased demand for reefer containers.

There is growing confidence that the El Niño phenomenon (ENSO) will intensify during the 2026–2027 period. This could disrupt Peru’s export logistics chain, particularly the transportation of agricultural and seafood products from the north of the country to its main port terminals, including the Port of Callao, Peru’s largest port.

“The El Niño events of 1997–1998, 2017 and 2023 showed that heavy rainfall and damage to roads and bridges severely disrupt transport corridors, reduce harvests and compress into just a few weeks cargo volumes that would normally move over longer periods,” said Sofía Balbi, Container Commercial Manager at APM Terminals Callao. “This places additional pressure on port access points, storage capacity and the availability of reefer containers,” she added.

Mangoes would be among the most exposed products because production is highly concentrated in northern Peru and the crop has sustained losses during previous climate events. The grape, blueberry, asparagus and avocado export seasons could also be affected, although the degree of impact would vary by region and harvest schedule.

Fishing activity adds another layer to this situation. The squid catch and supplies of other frozen seafood products typically recover after the busiest months of the fruit export season. Demand for refrigerated infrastructure could therefore remain high for an extended period rather than being limited to the agricultural export season.

Against this backdrop, APM Terminals Callao, operator of the North Terminal at Peru’s principal port, is preparing preventive measures that include early cargo acceptance, flexible gate-in windows, priority handling for critical operations and mechanisms to ensure the timely availability of empty containers. These measures are intended to prevent potential disruptions in northern Peru from causing a disorderly build-up of cargo in Callao.

“The main challenge is to anticipate how cargo flows will change and coordinate a timely response among the different stakeholders across the supply chain. Preventive action will help protect sensitive products, reduce delays and maintain the continuity of foreign trade,” Balbi said.

The company plans to coordinate with shipping lines, agricultural exporters, fishing companies, logistics operators, trucking companies and container depots. The aim is to establish protocols that can be activated progressively as climate conditions and market needs evolve. The terminal currently has 1,550 reefer plugs in specialized structures that allow refrigerated containers to be stacked safely, making efficient use of available terminal space while preserving the products’ cold chain. This capacity is expected to increase by 40% over the next two years

A coordinated response will be critical to reducing the impact of El Niño on exports, safeguarding the competitiveness of Peruvian products and preventing land infrastructure disruptions from spilling over into port terminals and the broader logistics chain.