Chilean port operator Puerto Caldera Terminal plans to invest $23 million in both new handling equipment and expand facilities.

With the investment, Puerto Caldera will cater for growth in export fruit traffic which rose from 30,000 tonnes last year to 50,000 tonnes in 2018.

Having already had discussions to the effect with German transportation company Hapag-Lloyd, the port also expects to be handling Argentinian traffic.

Additionally, some exporters expect to ship times by switching to Caldera to China reduced to just 30 days compared with 45-60 days from the current port of Buenos Aires.