Corio Deepwater Port: A new strategic gateway for India in South America

India’s push to strengthen global trade linkages and build resilient supply chains has brought new attention to high-value maritime assets across the world. With nearly 90% of international commerce moving by sea, access to strategic ports is becoming essential for India’s long-term industrial growth, food security, and clean-energy transition. Among the emerging opportunities, Peru’s Corio Deepwater Port stands out as a potential game-changer—an infrastructure asset with the ability to influence India’s economic trajectory for the next three to five decades.

Located in southern Peru, Corio offers a rare combination of depth and scalability. Its natural draft of 28 metres—one of the deepest along South America’s Pacific coastline—allows it to host Very Large Bulk Carriers (VLBCs). The port’s capacity can expand beyond 100 million tonnes annually, positioning Corio as a future-ready gateway for India’s growing maritime needs.

Peru’s importance to India is anchored in two critical sectors: minerals and agriculture. As the world’s third-largest copper producer, Peru is central to meeting India’s rising demand for minerals used in renewable energy infrastructure, electric vehicles, electronics, and data centres. With India expected to import more than 90% of its copper requirements by 2047, long-term access to Peru’s southern mining corridor takes on strategic significance.

Simultaneously, Peru’s rapidly modernising agricultural sector—now worth $24 billion—has turned the country into a global supplier of high-value produce such as avocados, blueberries, quinoa, grapes, and speciality grains. Forecasts suggest Peru’s agro-export volumes could rise to $40 billion by 2040, offering India fresh avenues for food diversification and cold-chain partnerships.

What elevates Corio’s value further is its role as a continental connector. Beyond Peru, the port provides access to four major South American economies—Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile—each rich in minerals, lithium, agricultural commodities, and industrial inputs. Through well-linked overland routes, Corio could serve as India’s single-entry point to the Andean highlands, the Amazon basin, and the Southern Cone.

Bolivia and Argentina offer significant lithium reserves vital for India’s battery, EV, and energy-storage ambitions. Western Brazil is a powerhouse of grains and protein exports, while northern Chile strengthens copper and mineral supply options. Corio, therefore, emerges not merely as a port but as a multi-country launchpad for Indian trade and investment.

A direct maritime corridor between Corio and Visakhapatnam (Vizag) on India’s east coast could redefine bilateral trade flows. Vizag, one of India’s premier deepwater ports and industrial hubs, is well positioned to anchor such a route. A Corio–Vizag axis would support steady exports from South America—copper, lithium, grains, and fresh produce—while carrying Indian pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, engineering goods, machinery, and digital infrastructure solutions on the return leg. Balanced cargo flows would reduce empty backhaul voyages, enhancing cost efficiency and attracting private-sector and shipping-line participation.

To harness this opportunity, strategic planning is essential. India could consider setting up a public–private investment consortium, deepening government-level engagement with Peru, and commissioning an India-led pre-feasibility and ESG assessment tailored to long-term national interests. Integrating Corio into India’s maritime vision and critical minerals strategy would ensure sustained economic and strategic benefits.

In essence, Corio represents much more than a deepwater port. It is a long-horizon infrastructure platform capable of supporting India’s supply-chain resilience, resource security, and geopolitical outreach for decades. For investors, it offers a rare combination of commercial potential and strategic leverage.