It is investing $1.7 billion in two new projects in Latin America, whose commodities exports to Asia have turned many of its economies into some of the fastest-growing in the world.
The company expects to be granted a concession next week to modernize the northern part of Peru's main port, Callao, for $750 million.
In late July or early August it also plans to sign a contract with Costa Rica's government to operate a new container dock at the Limon Port for 33 years. At nearly $1 billion, that will be one of the largest investments in the Central American country.
"Trade flows have great potential in the region. Last year South America trailed only China in growth of container traffic," Robert Bosman, General Manager of APM for Central & South America told Reuters at a regional port conference.
Container shipment grew 17.6 percent in 2010, according to statistics from the conference.
Experts said the industry will likely grow even faster in the next few years as two events to be held in Brazil, the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, increase the region's demand for imports.
APM Terminals, part of the Danish conglomerate AP Moller-Maersk, already operates two ports in Brazil and one in Argentina. It recently won a concession to build a new terminal in Santos, Brazil.
The company is the latest to bet on Peru at a time when some analysts see greater political uncertainty in the Andean nation.
Left-wing Ollanta Humala narrowly won the June 5 presidential election and some fear he will step up state control in the economy despite his repeated pledges to govern as a moderate.
"Peru, a major minerals exporter, is very interesting because of its location on the central Pacific coast and the high growth rate it has requires a port with more modern infrastructure," Bosman said. (Reuters)
