Global port operator DP World has overseen the discharge of 6,338 vehicles from a single vessel at its multipurpose terminal in Port of San Antonio, setting a new national benchmark for automotive cargo handling in Chile.
The vehicles arrived aboard the car carrier M/V Morning Lily, surpassing the previous record of 6,185 units achieved at the same terminal in 2021. The operation underscores the scale of automotive imports moving through San Antonio, Chile’s principal gateway for vehicle shipments.
DP World’s Chile chief executive Curtis Doiron said the port plays a central role in international automotive trade routes and is equipped to accommodate rising volumes, evolving vehicle technologies and more complex supply chains. The San Antonio terminal has operated in Chile for more than 20 years and currently handles more than 95 per cent of all vehicles entering the country.
The Morning Lily sailed from Shanghai carrying consignments from major manufacturers including Suzuki, Kia, Changan, Great Wall, Mazda, Ford, Volvo, SAIC Motor and Tesla. Discharge operations used roll-on/roll-off ramps, specialised handling equipment and coordinated yard and gate procedures to speed onward delivery to dealerships and distribution centres across Chile.
Vehicle throughput at San Antonio has risen steadily in recent years. DP World expects to handle nearly 248,000 vehicles in 2025, up from 235,822 in 2024 and 227,601 in 2023, reflecting continued growth in Chile’s automotive trade flows and the port’s expanding handling capacity.