Splash247: Colombia quake paralyses exports through Buenaventura

Published by Splash247

Colombia’s devastating earthquake has severely disrupted operations at the country’s principal Pacific gateway, with coffee exports through Buenaventura effectively brought to a standstill.

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday damaged transport infrastructure across the country’s coffee heartland and forced several Buenaventura terminals to suspend or restrict operations while safety inspections were carried out.

TCBuen, the city’s container terminal, suspended operations on Tuesday while drawing up a recovery plan, with a possible restart scheduled for Wednesday subject to safety assessments. At the nearby Aguadulce terminal, the earthquake shifted stacks of containers in several parts of the yard, forcing staff to reposition and secure boxes before normal operations could resume. Gate restrictions have also been imposed.

Other parts of the port have fared better. Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Buenaventura said containership and roro operations were running normally following engineering inspections, although other cargo activities were being brought back progressively.

The greater problem is getting cargo to the docks. Colombia’s National Infrastructure Agency reported landslides and damage at multiple points along the Buga-Buenaventura corridor, the crucial road connecting the port with the country’s interior. Three workers on the road project were killed in the earthquake.

Gustavo Gómez, president of coffee exporters’ association Asoexport, told Colombian business newspaper La República that coffee export operations are “currently paralysed”, with road closures, electricity outages, shortages of trucks and terminal restrictions combining to stop shipments.

Colombia exports around 1m 60 kg bags of coffee each month. Asoexport estimates that every day of disruption holds back more than 30,000 bags, equivalent to roughly 2,000 tonnes.

Even when roads and terminals fully reopen, the problems are unlikely to disappear immediately. Cargo accumulating inland will need to move towards Buenaventura simultaneously, raising the prospect of truck queues, terminal congestion and a considerable export backlog.