Maersk opens $20m-plus Montevideo logistics hub with 7,000 TEU capacity

A.P. Moller–Maersk has opened a $20 million-plus integrated logistics facility in Montevideo, adding 7,000 TEU of container storage capacity and more than 1,000 pallet positions to Uruguay's main gateway corridor. The investment, inaugurated in the presence of Uruguay's President Yamandú Orsi, marks one of the carrier's most significant logistics infrastructure commitments on the east coast of South America.

The 71,000-square-metre site sits along the Route 1 access corridor at the intersection of Camino Cibils and Camino Burghi, positioning it directly between inland supply chains and the Port of Montevideo. For context, the facility's footprint covers roughly the equivalent of ten football pitches.

What does the facility actually offer?

The new platform consolidates services that previously sat at separate locations into a single operation:

• 7,000 TEU of container storage capacity
• More than 1,000 pallet positions
• 140 reefer plugs for refrigerated containers
• 3,200 square metres of covered cargo handling and storage space
• Six inbound and six outbound gates, container-handling equipment and terminal tractors

On the container side, the site handles empty-container storage, inspection, maintenance and repair. On the cargo side, it offers container stuffing and de-stuffing, cargo inspection, full-container storage and refrigerated container power supply.

Maersk said consolidating these activities in one place will reduce operational handoffs and improve flexibility for cargo moving between inland facilities and the Port of Montevideo. The facility will support both bonded and domestic operations, alongside integrated logistics management and value-added services.

Why is Maersk doubling down on Uruguay?

"Uruguay plays an important role in connecting regional supply chains with international markets. This investment strengthens our capabilities in Montevideo and our connection with the Port of Montevideo, while expanding the solutions we can offer customers moving cargo through the region," said Antonio Dominguez, President for Latin America and the Caribbean at Maersk.

The facility was inaugurated with President Orsi, senior government officials and Maersk executives in attendance, underscoring the political weight Uruguay attaches to private logistics investment around its main port.

Ricardo Rocha, President for the East Coast of South America at Maersk, said the integration of container services, cargo handling and storage would connect inland operations more efficiently with the port and international markets.

For shippers and forwarders moving cargo through the River Plate region, the commercial calculation is straightforward: fewer handoffs between depot, warehouse and port typically mean faster turnaround and lower landside costs. For Maersk, the facility deepens its integrated logistics strategy in Latin America, where the carrier continues developing end-to-end transport and supply chain services rather than relying on ocean freight alone.

How sustainable is the build?

The logistics centre incorporates infrastructure aimed at improving energy efficiency and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The project is expected to achieve LEED Gold certification and includes solar panels for renewable electricity generation, automated temperature and climate-control systems, and humidity management technology. Its design also uses architectural features to maximise natural light and improve energy performance.

The Montevideo opening signals that Maersk will keep channelling capital into vertically integrated logistics assets across Latin America, a trajectory that should further blur the line between carrier and logistics provider for regional shippers.