NORTH AMERICA

Transisthmus corridor planned

21 years ago

Coatzacoalcos port in the central-eastern state of Veracruz and the Pacific coast port of Salina Cruz are contemplating a joint concession to run their respective container terminals. Salina Cruz lost its container traffic in 2003, because of its infrastructure limitations; the former terminal covered just 65,000 sq metres, although existing plans call for an additional 14ha of terminal space.

In keeping with the rest of North Africa, the two Spanish Moroccan enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta believe that there is still money is to be made from developing major container transhipment hubs. However, their desire to break into this market is being driven by other factors, too.

Meanwhile, Coatzacoalcos Port Authority is seeking an extra 50ha of land to develop a container terminal. The idea behind offering the joint concession is that both ports are on opposite sides of the Tehuantepec Isthmus, the narrowest point connecting the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. The road between the two ports has almost been completed while a rail link already exists. To date, seven companies have expressed interest in the concessions, all of which are Mexican, although some have indicated that they have external financial support.

Minimum investment required is in the region of US$54m with up to 300,000 containers a year predicted to pass along the corridor between the two ports. A concession tender is expected in the first half of 2006.