The Union Portuaria del Pacífico (UPDP) has submitted its design proposal for a new deep-water pier at the Port of Acajutla, a major upgrade that would allow El Salvador to receive the world’s largest ships and triple the terminal’s current capacity.

The project is part of the first phase of a $659 million investment commitment included in the $1.6 billion concession agreement signed between Turkish operator Yilport and El Salvador’s port authority, CEPA, for the 50-year administration of the terminals in Acajutla and La Unión.

Luis Canto, UPDP’s general manager, explained that the original plan called for a pier parallel to the coast, but maritime studies showed that such a layout would be exposed to strong swells. “The design initial that we had in mind was a pier parallel to the coast, but the studies showed that it would be very affected by the swells,” he told local business leaders during an event organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of El Salvador (Camarasal).

Weather disruptions have been a major challenge for the port. During the first half of 2025 alone, Acajutla recorded 2,483 hours of delays due to extreme weather conditions such as high tides and heavy rain. Strong swells forced the terminal to remain closed for eight days.

The new structure would be 510 meters long and 17.5 meters deep, designed to accommodate the largest container and bulk ships operating globally. “It will allow us to receive the largest ship that exists in the world today, whether for containers or bulk cargo,” Canto noted.

The Salvadoran government has one month to respond to the proposal. If approved, the bidding process would be launched and awarded in March 2026, with construction expected to begin by mid-2025. Once completed, the terminal’s capacity would rise from 350,000 TEUs to 1.2 million TEUs.

Canto added that early operational improvements have already surpassed expectations. Since UPDP took control in December 2024, the number of ships waiting offshore dropped from 17 to fewer than ten — a target originally planned for early 2026.