Hamburg Port Consulting (HPC) has been commissioned by the Colombian port authority SPRBUN to develop a growth strategy for the Buenaventura terminal.
The project focuses on optimising the terminal on the Pacific coast. Among other things, the aim is to improve the utilisation of existing capacity. HPC is also providing development scenarios for bulk, RoRo and multi-purpose traffic. The contract has been awarded by the Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Buenaventura (SPRBUN). HPC is combining methods of terminal planning, market analysis and financial modelling to evaluate various development scenarios for the terminal.
SPRBUN operates a multi-purpose terminal in Buenaventura for containers, general cargo, bulk cargo, liquid cargo and RoRo traffic. Whilst containers continue to play an important role for the terminal, attention is also being focused on the future significance of non-containerised cargo and the economic potential of a more broadly diversified cargo portfolio.
“Buenaventura is Colombia’s largest and most important port on the Pacific coast and plays a strategically important role in the country’s international trade,” said William Angarita, Director of Planning, Projects and Innovation at SPRBUN. “We are convinced that there are significant opportunities to further expand our terminal’s position across various cargo segments. Together with HPC, we are analysing how our existing facilities, cargo mix and operational set-up can support more efficient processes and a stronger market position in selected growth segments.”
Focus on bulk cargo segment
According to a statement from HPC, there is a particular focus on the bulk cargo sector. The aim is to identify how SPRBUN can play a greater role in this segment’s value chain and which cargo flows offer the greatest commercial potential. In addition, opportunities in the liquid cargo and RoRo sectors will be analysed, provided that market demand, operational feasibility and investment requirements can be reconciled.
The findings will be incorporated into various short-, medium- and long-term scenarios, which HPC will develop in collaboration with SPRBUN. These range from operational improvements and better utilisation of existing capacity to gradual adjustments to the terminal layout and investment options that can support future cargo growth.
HPC has extensive experience in terminal planning, operational optimisation, market analysis and financial modelling for ports and terminals worldwide. The company has previously supported SPRBUN in developing an integrated master plan for the terminal in Buenaventura. As a result, HPC brings in-depth knowledge of the cargo mix, the layout and the development prospects of the site.
“The focus is on how to reconcile market opportunities with the terminal’s physical and financial constraints,” said Nuno Nunes, Head of HPC’s Americas business. “By taking a holistic view of cargo potential, capacity utilisation, layout options and investment requirements, we can outline a viable development path for the next phase of multi-purpose terminal operations in Buenaventura.”
