Bio Bio Ports Seek to Strengthen Ties with Neuquén

The ports of the Bio Bio Region continue to advance in their efforts to strengthen ties with the Argentine province of Neuquén, a market whose industrial development raises the expectations of Chilean maritime terminals, which seek to position themselves as strategic players within the logistics chain that will be deployed around the production of Vaca Muerta.

This proposal has as its spearhead a plan to establish a bimodal corridor between both countries, where the railway and truck modes participate together within an axis that promises to make the departure of goods generated in Argentine territory to Asia via the Pacific more efficient and faster.

For this reason, the port facilities of Bio Bio have shown active participation in this crusade, as they are the gateways to the outside. Likewise, the project is also an opportunity for the terminals to capture new cargo segments and increase their figures. In this context, the general manager of Puertos de Talcahuano, Cristian Wulf, spoke with PortalPortuario about how they are working to achieve the objective and stated that "as ports, we are very interested in approaching the Argentine market."

In this initiative to create an international bimodal corridor connecting with Neuquén, a joint effort has been seen among the Bio Bio ports. Does this factor enhance the generation of links with Argentine logistics and productive actors?

Yes, it may be something a bit unprecedented and that is something we have to continue promoting among the ports and as a region, to go together to seek new markets. On the other hand, while what generates this, without a doubt, is Vaca Muerta, that also produces a matrix of goods and services that, in the long run of this boom, generates direct investments in gas, but at the same time also needs a series of other things, both goods and services, as more people come to work on this challenge.

So this generates a virtuous circle, from the point of view of the needs that will be required in all areas. This opens up more opportunities for us, without a doubt, which initially start with gas, but which in some way are projected and generated much further than that.

In terms of costs, what benefits can you offer as a port area to make the initiative more attractive?

Well, it goes a bit through the entire logistics chain, not just the port issue. The port is one link among several and that is precisely the challenge, how to make it increasingly competitive. Without a doubt, the entire Asian market is very different when leaving through the Pacific and that already generates competitiveness from the point of view of transit times. Road transport also at certain distances, depending on which other port it could be, also makes us more competitive.

Without a doubt, the challenge there is to continue developing and working on everything that means circulation, transfer, border crossings, which is perhaps one of the most relevant challenges that still needs to be improved, working between governments, between private parties and between all the actors involved in that process.

This also involves streamlining all customs procedures and permits…

Yes, it certainly involves optimizing documentary issues, also issues of the crossing itself, such as optimizing service hours, keeping roads clear, improving them, road infrastructure, etc. So, there are several aspects, none of which are perhaps so complex in the short term to address, but there are others that are medium or long-term, such as eventually recovering the railway or, initially, working on it in stages, as could be this pilot project that EFE is developing in Victoria; being able to use the installed capacity that already exists and promoting other projects as this progresses.

The basis of this initiative is intermodality…

Well, that already exists, because in some way a part -of the cargo- arrives by truck, is transferred to ships in containers or other types of cargo. The idea would be to broaden that view to also connect with the railway and see how that can be further enhanced, so that there are different types of offers, in order to expand capacities and make it more versatile, more flexible and have multiple options.

On the Argentine side, are there advances in terms of infrastructure, railway and roads?
The governor -of Neuquén- spoke of projections they also have to develop and accelerate some improvements in roads and other matters, and to see how to promote the train issue. In general, this is very well seen by the companies we were with, so I think it is a good opportunity to promote that, given the interest from the Argentine market. I think we are, in that sense, on a good path to promote that. The conditions are given, there is increasing interest and also more need to use this route.

A few weeks ago, Puertos de Talcahuano participated in the Comex Norpatagónica 2026 Conference. What impressions did that meeting leave?

We took away a very pleasant impression, not only from the point of view of the logistics ecosystem present at this fair, but starting with the invitation extended to the ports of the Bio Bio Region to participate in this event. Also, for everything the governor of Neuquén commented regarding the opportunity and the vision he had regarding how to promote this bi-oceanic corridor between Argentina and Bio Bio, and the potential that existed.

The logistics actors were very clear that this -the corridor initiative- existed and that, in some way, the idea is that over time more of their clients, more importers and exporters will join in working through Bio Bio. There was an instance with a panel where the general manager of SVTI -San Vicente Terminal Internacional- and the general manager of DP World were present, explaining all the attributes of the region, all the port offerings and the availability that exists. As ports, we are very interested in approaching the Argentine market.

It could be said that they were very pleased…

It was a super good opportunity to show ourselves as a united region, and to make all this offer visible. We also took the opportunity to invite them to the fairs on October 6 that will be held as a Comex Table and where the eight ports of the region will also go to show the capacities we have and there, not only with the Argentine issue, but also all of Maule to Los Lagos, to promote national exporters and importers.

Can it be considered that the industrial development of Neuquén depends on the ports of Bio Bio?

It is not that it serves for all types of cargo or for all types of destinations, but without a doubt, in many cases it will be much more efficient to bring them through Bio Bio. That will also depend on the origin - destination, it will depend on whether there is an import or not. It is clear that for the Asian market, without a doubt, we are a good opportunity to be used. The issue of costs, transit time, are factors that are also within the spectrum of decisions that can help to make their logistics chain and their foreign trade costs more efficient.

In terms of concrete advances, what could be seen in the short or medium term?

There are several things. One is that on October 6 we have the Comex Fair in Concepción, where the idea is to show all the attributes of the region with respect to all the port infrastructure, logistics infrastructure and all our capacities that we have as Bio Bio to show ourselves throughout our hinterland, from Maule to Los Lagos, and Argentina is also a special guest. Within this fair, the idea is to have bilateral meetings, business rounds, stands and discussion panels so that these issues can be further deepened.

It is expected that, before the end of the year, there will also be this bimodal rail-truck pilot in Victoria, after arriving at port in the Bio Bio Region, so these would be relevant milestones that will come between now and the end of the year to strengthen these relationships, these improvements and draw conclusions from this pilot, in a more operational and concrete matter on how to address it.

How long will it take to see something already established from this international connection?

I believe this has to be gradual, step by step and to enhance what exists. From that point of view, I think the pilot project is a good way forward, along with making ourselves known and promoting ourselves, because perhaps the same thing happens in Chile with some cargoes, in that there are certain paradigms and they have to be overcome to try and take the step.

In the case of Argentine cargo, something similar happens, in the sense that perhaps forwarders or certain logistics operators have a more or less clear offer; perhaps it is necessary to reach the importer and exporter a little more so that they take the step to look at other alternatives, as in this case would be Bio Bio.

Does the already installed port capacity in Bio Bio increase the region's advantage?

Without a doubt, that is a fundamental part, it would be different if we had to make large investments to start. There is infrastructure, so that is key to starting now and scaling this to other more ambitious projects that may be medium or long term. In the challenge we have with Bio Bio 2050, which is a strategic vision of how we want to build the region, an important and fundamental axis is the logistics issue.

In Neuquén they are developing a similar tool, so it is also important that we can take advantage of these two instances that are occurring in the two regions and promote some matters where, with logistics, energy and bilateral issues, there are undoubtedly common agendas that we have to work on.