The launch of Chancay Port in Peru is transforming the logistics and trade landscape in Latin America. With direct links to Asia and faster, cheaper shipping routes, this new deep-water port is quickly becoming a strategic hub for regional exports. But as trade flows shift, so do the risks. For brand owners, Chancay represents both an opportunity and a critical new front in the fight against counterfeiting.

Chancay Port is reshaping trade in Latin America

Since its commercial launch in June 2025, Chancay Port has changed the dynamics of maritime trade in the region. Located just 80 kilometers north of Lima, this joint venture between Peru and China is the first deep-water port on South America’s Pacific coast, capable of handling ultra-large vessels of over 24,000 TEUs. It offers a direct route to Shanghai, reducing shipping time to just 23 days, bypassing traditional hubs like the Panama Canal and U.S. ports.

This new infrastructure significantly lowers logistics costs, reduces transit times by up to 12 days, and enables countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador to access Asian markets more efficiently.

Strategic corridors and regional integration

Chancay is also part of a broader regional development strategy. In July 2025, Brazil and China signed an agreement to develop a bi-oceanic railway corridor connecting Brazil to Chancay. This will create a continuous east-west trade route across the continent, bypassing north-south logistics chains and traditional Atlantic ports.

Additional infrastructure projects, such as the Interoceanic Highway, will further link Bolivia and northern Chile to the port, reinforcing Peru’s role as a regional gateway.

The counterfeiting risk follows new trade routes

With trade growth comes greater exposure to counterfeit goods. According to the World Customs Organization’s 2023–2024 report, Latin America remains a key target for IP infringement, particularly in high-traffic ports. In 2023 alone, over 1.2 billion USD worth of counterfeit goods were seized in the region, representing a 12 percent increase over the previous year.

Footwear and apparel, electronics, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and automotive parts are among the most frequently counterfeited goods, and these products often enter through major ports and free trade zones.

As Chancay emerges as a high-volume trade hub, counterfeiters are likely to adapt quickly, redirecting illicit flows toward new entry points unless preventive action is taken.

Peru’s legal tools for proactive brand enforcement

Brand owners must act now to secure their IP rights in Peru. Unlike other countries, Peru is not part of the Madrid System, so international trademark protections do not apply automatically. Rights holders must register their marks locally.

The good news is that INDECOPI, Peru’s national IP authority, offers fast and cost-effective administrative enforcement tools. These mechanisms allow for seizures, destruction orders, and fines without lengthy court proceedings. And with the government’s recent reduction in trademark, patent, and design registration fees (effective July 1, 2025), protecting IP in Peru is now more accessible than ever.

Modern customs systems at Chancay are equipped to detect counterfeits, but enforcement depends on whether trademarks are properly registered and monitored. Proactive surveillance at this port can intercept counterfeit shipments before they reach regional markets.

Chancay as an opportunity for smarter brand protection

Chancay has the potential to disrupt established smuggling routes by shifting traffic away from ports like Callao, Panama, and Santos. If rightsholders concentrate monitoring efforts here, they can get ahead of illicit trade patterns early.

Furthermore, the port’s automated infrastructure and integration with regional logistics corridors increase transparency and traceability—valuable tools in anti-counterfeiting strategies. However, this can only be effective if enforcement is harmonized across neighboring countries. Peru, Chile, Brazil, and Colombia must continue strengthening customs cooperation to safeguard the region against IP crime.

The time to act is now

Chancay Port is no longer a future project. It is operational, growing, and already impacting trade patterns across Latin America. The convergence of faster trade, rising counterfeit risk, and expanded enforcement options makes Peru a critical point of attention for any brand doing business in the region.

Registering your trademarks locally, monitoring key entry points, and leveraging administrative enforcement can make the difference between staying ahead of illicit trade or being caught unprepared.

Get in touch with our IP experts to design a brand protection strategy tailored to this new era of Latin American trade. ClarkeModet can help you secure your trademarks in Peru and across the region, from registration to enforcement at the port level.