Port operator deepens links in South America (hktdc.com)

Hong Kong's Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), the world's biggest container terminal operator, is spending up to HK$4 billion (US$514 million) to build and operate a new container terminal at the port of Manta in Ecuador, South America.

HPH's Group Managing Director, John Meredith, said the group welcomed the opportunity to build and manage a container handling facility which will strengthen HPH's Latin America network. "Being the closest port to Asia, the new terminal will benefit from the growing trade activities between the two regions," Mr Meredith said.

HPH is betting that Manta's location – approximately one hour from international shipping routes and about 250km from the Ecuadorean capital of Quito – and its natural deep-sea harbour will tempt shipping lines to make it their first port of call on the west coast of South America. An added bonus for HPH is Manta's close proximity to the Panama Canal which is 1,200 kilometres to the north.

The new Manta terminus is scheduled to be operational in 2007. It will have a quay length of 1,250 metres for container handling with a depth alongside of 15 metres, and a total area of 63 hectares upon completion.

HPH, a subsidiary of the multinational conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Limited, has investments in 21 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas. In 2005, the HPH Group handled 51.8 million TEU.