Contecon Guayaquil S.A., International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s Ecuadorian commercial subsidiary based at the Port of Guayaquil, has received the first call from COSCO Shipping’s Asia-Central and South America 5 (WSA5) service.
The call took place on 21 February, and the WSA5 service represents Ecuador’s first direct shipping link to Asia through Peru’s Port of Chancay.
According to ICTSI, the WSA5 service provides a simplified route that allows freight to reach Shanghai in just 27 days.
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Contecon Guayaquil’s direct connection to one of the major consumer markets creates fresh development potential for Ecuadorian exporters.
Javier Lancha, Chief Executive Officer of Contecon Guayaquil, said: “This service brings together millions of people, businesses, and projects in a record time of just 27 days and 27 minutes. The 27 minutes correspond to the average time it takes for transport vehicles to complete their transactions at the terminal. We thank COSCO for trusting us as a strategic partner and for its bold move in connecting the west coast of South America with Asia.”
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The service helps Ecuador achieve its larger trade goals by using the country’s Free Trade Agreement with China to increase exports.
The WSA5 service makes stops at ports such as Dalian, Ningbo, Shanghai, and Qingdao in China, as well as Ensenada, Manzanillo, and Lázaro Cárdenas in Mexico, before heading to Buenaventura, Colombia; Guayaquil, Ecuador; and Chancay, Peru.
From there, the service returns to Shanghai and Dalian, creating a continuous commerce circle between Latin America and Asia.
In December 2024, Contecon Guayaquil signed a new commercial deal for the Asia-South America (ASA) service.
