The development of the Corío Port Terminal, in Arequipa, involves an estimated investment of US$844.48 million in three stages and seeks to convert southern Peru into a new logistics, industrial, and commercial hub connected with Brazil, Bolivia, and the Asia-Pacific markets.
The project was presented by the Private Investment Promotion Agency (ProInversión), specifying that its first stage foresees an estimated investment of US$651.98 million, and will be complemented by a logistics city of more than 34,000 hectares that includes distribution centers, storage, industrial parks, and transformation and value-added activities.
The second stage of the project contemplates a preliminary investment of US$109.25 million, including a second berth for bulk cargo, storage, and a railway component, while the third considers US$83.25 million of potential investment for a third specialized berth and complementary equipment.
Luis Del Carpio, executive president of ProInversión, highlighted that Ciudad-Puerto Corío represents a historic opportunity to transform the economic and social development of the south of the country.
"The true dimension of Corío will be, in addition to the port, the investment in industry, employment, and economic activity that we are capable of generating. The port is the door; what will be truly transformative is everything we manage to build behind that door," he emphasized.
Luis Del Carpio stressed that Corío is a fundamental piece within the great economic and logistics corridor of southern Peru. "We want to stop looking at each project as an island and start building economic systems. Thinking big does not mean improvising, it means having a big vision and executing it technically, step by step. Now it is time to convert that opportunity into projects and investment into development for our people," he added.
According to estimates by the Regional Government of Arequipa, the initiative could generate more than 50,000 direct jobs and 150,000 indirect jobs, in addition to contributing to the development of technical capabilities, innovation, and knowledge transfer. The first phase would have a potential impact equivalent to 1.9% of the national GDP.
The port of Corío also seeks to improve the competitiveness of southern producers by facilitating their connection with international markets. The Master Plan contemplates a multipurpose terminal specialized in clean solid bulk, with capacity for general cargo and containers. By 2030, after commissioning, optimistic scenarios project a capture of up to 932,000 tons of general cargo and 19 million tons of bulk cargo.
Within the framework of the event "Ciudad Puerto Corío: a new development platform for the south," ProInversión and the Regional Government of Arequipa signed the Interinstitutional Collaboration Agreement for the promotion of the project.
The objective is to promote, disseminate, and position Ciudad-Puerto Corío as a strategic area for national and foreign investment, seeking to generate interest in investment opportunities linked to logistics, port, productive, industrial, commercial, service, urban, and infrastructure development.
ProInversión states that the project will not only connect southern Peru with new markets but can also link investment with employment, production with opportunities, and regions with infrastructure.
The Master Plan for the Corío Port Terminal was approved by the Autoridad Portuaria Nacional in September 2026. ProInversión plans to advance public-private articulation and the promotion of necessary investments to progressively develop the project and its logistics environment.
