AAPA Latam highlights infrastructure improvements at Puerto Quetzal and reduction in vessel queues

Between September 2025 and the same month this year, Puerto Quetzal increased its cargo throughput from 12.59 million to 14.2 million tonnes (Cerib/AdobeStock)

A port complex facing growing demand for logistics services, underscoring the need to expand its capacity to meet the requirements of shipping companies, importers, exporters and other stakeholders throughout the logistics chain.

This is Puerto Quetzal, located on Guatemala’s Pacific coast, which will be featured at the 2026 Latin American Congress of Ports, organized by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA Latam) from December 1 to 4 in Guatemala City. Grupo Tribuna is a partner of the event.

It is one of the country’s main ports and is essential to national and international maritime trade. It has modern infrastructure and specialized services geared toward economic development.

By the numbers

Several figures help illustrate Puerto Quetzal’s importance. The port will host participants for a technical visit on the final day of the event.

According to the Guatemalan government’s website, between September last year and the same month in 2026, the port expanded its operations, increasing the number of vessels served from 915 to 992. During the same period, cargo throughput rose from 12.59 million to 14.2 million tonnes.

As a result, the number of vessels waiting to be served fell from more than 50 to just six, even as vessel traffic and cargo volumes increased. In addition, investments are being made to facilitate the unloading of bulk commodities, such as grain and raw materials, while technical studies advance for the future expansion of the berths. This expansion is needed after more than 30 years without strategic investments of this kind.

Recent progress was presented by Sergio Gil Mancilla, general manager of Empresa Portuaria Quetzal (EPQ), who took part in Encontro Logístico 2026, organized by the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala.

Following the contract update and the opening of the market to new operators, a second company is adding two more Liebherr LHM 550 multipurpose mobile cranes, each with a lifting capacity of up to 154 tonnes and designed to handle different types of cargo. The addition of two new tugboats was also discussed, as they will increase the port’s capacity to assist vessels and carry out maritime maneuvers.

These additions are being made under the indirect management system, through companies providing port services, and are intended to expand the service options available to users of Puerto Quetzal.

The event

Organized in partnership with Guatemala’s Designated Authority for the National Port System and produced by PR Ports, the congress will feature four days of panels, discussions and business meetings for port authorities, government representatives, logistics operators, terminal executives, investors, technology suppliers and multilateral organizations.

Over four days, more than 700 leaders, port authorities and international experts will gather to discuss key issues, including geopolitics and trade, port competitiveness, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, sustainability, integrated logistics, security, concessions, infrastructure and new strategies for developing the regional port system.

According to the organizers, Guatemala was selected at a time of transformation for the country’s port system and growing importance of Central America in international trade routes. Registration remains open at bit.ly/4BtVVdr.

AAPA Latam

The organization represents the interests of ports across the Western Hemisphere, including the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Selection

This will be the first edition of the congress in Guatemala since the meeting held 14 years ago in Antigua. According to the organizers, the country was selected at a time of transformation for Guatemala’s port system and growing importance of Central America in international trade routes.

Guatemala’s strategic location between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, together with projects to modernize port infrastructure, digitize operations, strengthen governance and expand logistics connectivity, was cited as one of the factors behind the choice of host country.