Peru Declares Emergency at Port Callao

The government of Peru declared a 60-day emergency in an effort to end a dock strike at Callao, the country’s largest port.

Declaration of a state of emergency will allow the armed forces and police to intervene and restore operations in the port on the central coast of Peru. The government said the army and navy would support and secure the port of Callao.

The strike has already cost millions in lost trade, according to local news reports. Peru’s economy depends heavily on raw material exports. The port of Callao handles approximately $100 million worth of goods in a typical day. Most exports go to the U.S., China and Europe.

As many as 30 ships have rerouted to neighboring ports to avoid protestors at Callao.

Containerized trade between the U.S. and Peru, which is weighted at about 60-40 percent toward U.S. exports, fell about 12 percent last year, according to PIERS Global Intelligence Solutions. 

-- Contact Thomas L. Gallagher at tgallagher@joc.com.