Port Infrastructure Business Opportunities in Central America

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in San José has identified major maritime infrastructure development opportunities across Central America. Governments in the region are actively seeking international partners through public-private partnerships (PPPs) to modernize and expand strategic ports. These projects present valuable business prospects for Dutch firms in port engineering, dredging, green logistics, and digital maritime solutions.

Developments

Central America is undergoing a maritime transformation driven by global trade shifts, climate adaptation, and near shoring trends. With over $2.7 billion in port-related investments identified, governments in Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua are preparing new and expanded port concessions with projected timelines from 2024 through 2035. Dutch expertise in sustainable port engineering, dredging, port electrification, and maritime (security-)tech is in high demand to support these ambitious projects.

Opportunities for Dutch Businesses

Costa Rica

- Caldera Port Expansion (PPP): $500+ million | Tender Q4 2025 | The project aims to select an international private concessionaire responsible for designing, financing, constructing, operating, and maintaining Puerto Caldera.

$150 million for infrastructure improvements, $200 million for equipment upgrades, $100 million for general expenses and utilities, $50 million for start-up costs, and $5 million dedicated to environmental and social risk mitigation measures.

 - APM Terminals Moín Phase 3: 2026–2027 | Deepening berths to handle New Panamax ships. Future expansion phases are planned to increase the alongside berth depth to 16 meters, enabling the terminal to accommodate New Panamax ships with capacities up to 13,000 TEUs
- Limón Cruise & Marina Terminal (PPP/PFI): $854 million | expansion for Mixed-use cruise, yacht, tourism terminal, with aimed capacity to serve five cruise ships at a time, and could accommodate 234 luxury yachts.| Approval end-2025.
- Additional: Dry port feasibility in Puntarenas/Guanacaste, green transition strategy, logistics digitization/Training for port authorities and coast guards.

For whom does this currently represent an opportunity?
Maritime engineering firms, dredging firms, environmental consultants, port equipment suppliers, renewable energy and electrification firms, tech firms in logistics automation, Cruise tourism engineering.

Why Dutch businesses?
Dutch companies are internationally recognized for their capacities in dredging, smart port automation, and sustainable port development. Costa Rica's green ambitions and demand for circular solutions align well with Dutch strengths in climate-resilient infrastructure and digital maritime systems.

Guatemala

- Puerto Quetzal Modernization: $504 million + APMT expansion ($60m + $58m) | 800 m quay, 4 new berths | Dredging 134.000m3 | phased upgrades to serve larger vessels
- Santo Tomás de Castilla Terminals: $150 million | Bulk liquids, cruise terminal | Tender 2026
- Puerto Barrios Expansion: $50 million | Increase to 1 million TEU/year
- Tecún Umán Dry Port: $40 million | efficiency in terrestrial cargo transit through the recovery of an 11.8 km inland railway connection | Border logistics hub with Mexico
- Intermodal Transport Corridor (Private sector initiative): $15000 million | Tokenized financing, COINGT, investors gain direct ownership of the project | 2 ports, rail (372 km), pipelines, industrial zones. 

For whom does this currently represent an opportunity?
Engineering consultants, port equipment and dredging companies, logistics and rail infrastructure firms, and possibly digital finance innovators.

Why Dutch businesses?
The Netherlands has proven experience in multimodal infrastructure, smart financing tools, and bulk handling equipment. Guatemala’s large-scale and phased infrastructure rollouts benefit from Dutch expertise in PPP structuring and sustainable design.

El Salvador

- Yilport Port Concessions (Acajutla, La Unión): $1.6 billion | Rollout 2024–2035 | Digitally integrated ports, rail links, terminals.
- Pacific Maritime Corridor: Study phase 2025 | Integrated port-airport-link to Bitcoin City

For whom does this currently represent an opportunity?
Investors, maritime tech firms, civil contractors, and port IT solution providers.

Honduras

- Puerto Cortés Upgrades: 2024–2026 | Logistics and container handling
- Intermodal Corridor revival, post-storm infrastructure modernization (smaller ports, fisheries)

For whom does this currently represent an opportunity?
Companies in coastal engineering, post-disaster reconstruction, ship repair, harbor facilities and maritime vocational training.

Nicaragua

- Bluefields Deep Water Port: $500 million | New deep water port | Agreement China & Honduras | Start: H2 2025 | Reduce dependency on foreign ports, 3-phase rollout.

For whom does this currently represent an opportunity?
Large-scale port developers, dredging firms, and strategic logistics partners.

Why Dutch businesses?

Nicaragua’s multiphase Bluefields port aligns well with Dutch capabilities in greenfield development and integrated planning.

More Information

To have an idea of the actors involved in the Port network in Central America, see here the most important institutions per country:

Central American Port Maritime Network

Guatemala

Comisión Portuaria Nacional

Terminal Ferroviaria Puerto Barrios

Empresa Portuaria Quetzal

Empresa Portuaria Nacional Santo Tomás de Castilla

Terminal Contenedores Quetzal – APM Terminals

El Salvador

Autoridad Marítima Portuaria

Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autónoma

Puerto Acajutla            - Yilport Holding

Puerto La Unión          - Yilport Holding

Honduras

Empresa Nacional Portuaria

Dirección General de la Marina Mercante

Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana - International Container Terminal Services

Nicaragua

Empresa Portuaria Nacional

Dirección General de Transporte Acuático del Ministerio de Transporte e Infraestructura

Costa Rica

Junta de Administración Portuaria y Desarrollo Económico de la Vertiente Atlántica

Instituto Costarricense de Puertos del Pacífico

Terminal Contenedores Moin – APM Terminals

Sociedad Portuaria de Caldera SPC - Hapag-Lloyd/Grupo SAAM

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in San José, with support from consulates in the region, maintains direct contact with local ministries, port authorities, and PPP agencies. Dutch companies can receive guidance on local procurement procedures, matchmaking with local partners, and participation in regional maritime trade forums such as REPICA and Intermodal Latin America.

Contact

Interested in exploring port development projects in Central America?

Contact:
Hans E. Buhrs, MBA
Senior Officer, Economic Affairs
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for Central America 
hans.buhrs@minbuza.nl | +506 8427 8987
www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/landen/costa-rica