COSCO SHIPPING Lines has launched a new “sea transportation + postal clearance” logistics channel linking Shanghai directly with Peru’s Port of Chancay, significantly reducing delivery costs for Chinese cross-border e-commerce goods entering South America.
The service, the first of its kind in Peru, allows Chinese e-commerce products to enter the country through a combined maritime and national postal framework. Until now, most parcels bound for Peruvian consumers were shipped by air, resulting in high logistics costs and elevated retail prices.
From Air to Sea
By shifting shipments from air freight to ocean transport, COSCO is leveraging economies of scale to offer a more affordable and environmentally sustainable alternative. Once vessels arrive at the Port of Chancay, Peru’s national postal operator, Serpost, takes immediate custody of the cargo, handling customs clearance and last-mile delivery to consumers.
Industry sources say the new model is expected to lower end-consumer prices for popular Chinese electronics, household goods and apparel. The use of regular maritime schedules is also expected to stabilise supply, reducing the stock shortages often caused by volatile air cargo capacity.
Chancay Emerges as a Regional Hub
The Port of Chancay, which marked its first year of operations in late 2024, is rapidly positioning itself as a key node in the New Asia–Latin America Land-Sea Corridor. Its deep-water berths and high level of automation enable it to handle the large volumes required for cross-border e-commerce, capabilities that smaller regional ports often lack.
COSCO said the collaboration with Serpost reflects its broader strategy of turning infrastructure investment into tangible benefits for local economies. Beyond e-commerce, the corridor has already improved trade flows, cutting the transit time for Peruvian agricultural exports such as blueberries and avocados to China to around 23 days.
The new Shanghai–Chancay route is expected to further strengthen South-South trade links, while making imported goods more accessible to consumers across Peru.