Empresa Portuaria Austral

What Empresa Portuaria Austral does

Empresa Portuaria Austral (EPAUSTRAL) is a Chilean state-owned autonomous port enterprise (empresa autónoma del Estado) founded in 1998 and headquartered in Punta Arenas, in the Magallanes Region. The company holds the legal mandate to administer, develop, and conserve public port infrastructure across the Magallanes Region and the Chilean Antarctic, operating three core terminals — Terminal Arturo Prat (Punta Arenas, cruise and passenger), Terminal José de los Santos Mardones (Punta Arenas, cargo and bulk), and Terminal Puerto Natales — plus a network of seven connectivity ramps spanning 1,000+ km of the region's coastline. The company has no private shareholders or subsidiaries and is overseen by the Sistema de Empresas Públicas (SEP) of Chile.

Name

Empresa Portuaria Austral

Legal name

Empresa Portuaria Austral

Website

https://epaustral.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Empresa Portuaria Austral is a Chilean state-owned autonomous port enterprise founded in 1998, administering three terminals and seven connectivity ramps in the Magallanes Region, providing berthing, cargo transfer, storage, and passenger transport services to cruise lines, ferry operators, and regional cargo shippers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port Administration Services

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Marine Cargo Handling (488320)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Terminals & Cargo Handling Infrastructure (RoRo, Bulk, Container) (IMAFAJAF)

Keywords

• Port terminal services
• Cargo handling services
• Maritime connectivity
• Berthing services
• Cruise port operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Punta Arenas

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Muellaje (Berthing/Dockage fees): Charges to vessels for using port terminals (berthing/dockage service), governed by publicly published tariff schedules.
2. Transferencia (Cargo transfer/handling fees): Charges for cargo loading/unloading and transfer operations at terminals.
3. Almacenamiento (Storage fees): Charges for storage of cargo at port facilities.
4. Acopio (Cargo consolidation/warehousing): Charges for cargo consolidation and staging services.
5. Transporte de Pasajeros y Control de Acceso (Passenger transport and access control): Charges for passenger ferry/transport services (e.g., connectivity ferries) and terminal access/accreditation services.
6. Rampas de Conectividad tariffs (Connectivity ramps fees): Tariffs for use of connectivity ramps serving interprovincial ferry traffic across the Magallanes Region, published periodically with rate updates.
7. Otros Servicios (Other services): Additional ancillary services as listed in the Reglamento de Servicios Portuarios y Tarifarios.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Empresa Portuaria Austral (EPAUSTRAL) is a Chilean state-owned autonomous port enterprise that develops, administers, and operates public port infrastructure across the Magallanes Region, including three core port terminals (Arturo Prat, José de los Santos Mardones, Puerto Natales) and seven connectivity ramps covering more than 1,000 km. It sells berthing (muellaje), cargo transfer, storage, cargo consolidation (acopio), passenger transport, access control, and ancillary port services under publicly published tariff schedules to shipping lines, cruise operators, ferry operators, and industrial cargo shippers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Muellaje (Berthing / Dockage) Charges to vessels for using EPAUSTRAL port terminals (berthing/dockage service), governed by publicly published tariff schedules and delivered to shipping lines, cruise operators and ferry operators at Terminal Arturo Prat, Terminal Mardones, Terminal Puerto Natales and connectivity ramps.
• Transferencia (Cargo Transfer) Cargo loading/unloading and transfer operations at EPAUSTRAL terminals, charged to cargo shippers, navieras and stevedoring agencies. Capacity targeted to grow from ~400,000 to ~800,000 tons at Terminal Mardones.
• Almacenamiento (Storage) Storage of cargo at EPAUSTRAL port facilities, offered to cargo shippers and navieras as a usage-based port service under the Reglamento de Servicios Portuarios y Tarifarios.
• Acopio (Cargo Consolidation) Cargo consolidation and staging services provided at EPAUSTRAL terminals for cargo operators and stevedoring agencies, priced per the published tariff schedule.
• Transporte de Pasajeros y Control de Acceso Passenger transport services (interprovincial connectivity ferries) and terminal access/accreditation services delivered to ferry operators and passengers at EPAUSTRAL terminals and connectivity ramps.
• Otros Servicios (Other Ancillary Port Services) Additional ancillary port services listed in the Reglamento de Servicios Portuarios y Tarifarios, delivered to vessel operators, agents and cargo customers as managed services.
• Rampas de Conectividad (Connectivity Ramps) Network of seven concrete connectivity ramps (Tres Puentes, Costanera, Bahía Chilota, Williams, Daroch, Yendegaia, Puerto Edén) providing interprovincial ferry and RoRo connectivity services to shipping companies and ferry operators across the Magallanes Region. Tariffs updated periodically.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8x increase in port investment compared to cumulative 1998–2024 baseline, reaching over US$130 million
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Corporación de Puertos del Cono SurcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Non-profit association of Chilean state port companies. EPAUSTRAL's General Manager Miguel Palma Morales assumed the presidency of the Corporation for 2026-2027. Members include ports of Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta, Coquimbo, Valparaíso, San Antonio, Talcahuano-San Vicente, Puerto Montt, Chacabuco and Austral, plus terminals TPS, TPVSA, Oxxean, agents Inchcape, A.J. Broom, B&M Agencia Marítima, and DMC Chile.
• Armada de Chile (Chilean Navy / Tercera Zona Naval)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Joint organization of 'Conoce Nuestro Patrimonio Naval y Portuario' open-door events at Terminal Arturo Prat. Cooperation on maritime signaling inspections and safety. Rompehielos 'Almirante Viel' visits. Captain Rodrigo Pérez Castro represents the Navy.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV) / Puerto San AntoniominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 December 2025PUCV and Puerto San Antonio organized the 'Desafíos de la Gobernanza Portuaria en Chile' seminar where EPAUSTRAL's board president Gabriel Aldoney Vargas participated.
• Asociación de Puertos y Logística Antártica (APAL)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Association of public and private entities that promotes Chile as the first gateway to Antarctica. EPAUSTRAL board member José Retamales (ex-INACH director) highlighted APAL's role in linking scientific and tourist activities.
• International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025IAATO delegations met with EPAUSTRAL in August 2024 and March 2025 to discuss port infrastructure improvements supporting Antarctic expedition tourism. Members include Aurora Expeditions, Bark Europa, Shackleton's Way, Antarctica21 and Hurtigruten.
• Fundación Imagen de Chile (Marca Chile)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2025Collaboration agreement with the Corporación de Puertos del Conosur to highlight Chilean ports' identity, values and attractions internationally. EPAUSTRAL hosted the Marca Chile delegation at Terminal Arturo Prat in March 2025.
• Inchcape Shipping ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2025Maritime agency that supports cruise ship arrivals at EPAUSTRAL terminals, including agencing the Majestic Princess and participating in commemorative plaque exchanges. Member of Corporación de Puertos del Conosur.
• Delegación Presidencial Regional / MOP / Tercera Zona NavalcoreOthers · 1 January 2025Coordination meetings for the reordenamiento (reordering) of the borde costero (coastline) of Punta Arenas, in the area of Terminal Mardones, with the Delegado Presidencial José Ruiz Pivcevic, the Seremi of Public Works and the Commander in Chief of the Tercera Zona Naval.
• Gobierno Regional de Magallanes (GORE Magallanes)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024First Convenio de Programación between a Chilean state port company and a regional government. Invests >38 billion pesos (US$38M, 63% EPAUSTRAL / 37% GORE) into four projects: Muelle Mardones slab reinforcement, mobile cranes, Muelle Prat berthing capacity improvement (Etapas II & III), and new Passenger Terminal at Prat.
• Constructora ViliciccoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 December 2024Contracted by EPAUSTRAL for the execution of the Muelle Mardones slab reinforcement works (Convenio de Programación), expected to be ready in second half of 2025. Signed by General Manager Miguel Palma and Partner Director Jorge Vilicic.
• Magallanes en 100 Palabras (Fundación Plagio & ENAP)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2024EPAUSTRAL is a collaborating institution for the Magallanes en 100 Palabras short story contest. General Manager Miguel Palma Morales delivered the Talento Mayor prize in the 9th edition ceremony.
• Comunidad Logística Portuaria (Magallanes) — members include Ultramar, Ultraport, UlogminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Collaboration body of regional port logistics actors to align strategy, share project updates, and reduce carbon footprint. EPAUSTRAL's Gerencia de Servicios (Marcela Mansilla) and Jefatura de Terminales Prat/Mardones (Sergio Díaz) participate.
• Sistema de Empresas Públicas (SEP)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024The Sistema de Empresas Públicas defines and ratifies EPAUSTRAL's board of directors (Directorio) and provides corporate governance oversight. SEP president visited EPAUSTRAL facilities in August 2025.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Empresa Portuaria San Antonio: Chilean state-owned port enterprise administering Puerto San Antonio, the largest port in Chile by cargo throughput. Direct peer as it operates under the same legal framework (empresa autónoma del Estado) with comparable governance, revenue model (berthing, transfer, storage tariffs), and oversight by SEP. Co-organized port governance seminars with EPAUSTRAL.
• Empresa Portuaria Talcahuano-San Vicente: Chilean state-owned port enterprise operating the Talcahuano-San Vicente port complex. Member of Corporacion de Puertos del Cono Sur with EPAUSTRAL; operates under the same autonomous state enterprise framework with similar tariff-based service model.
• Empresa Portuaria Valparaíso: Chilean state-owned port enterprise administering Puerto Valparaíso. Direct peer under identical governance structure, member of Corporacion de Puertos del Cono Sur alongside EPAUSTRAL, and operates the same tariff-based revenue model for berthing, transfer, and storage.
• Empresa Portuaria Coquimbo: Chilean state-owned port enterprise operating Puerto Coquimbo. Direct peer as a state-owned port authority under SEP oversight and member of Corporacion de Puertos del Cono Sur alongside EPAUSTRAL; comparable service portfolio and governance.
• Empresa Portuaria Chacabuco: Chilean state-owned port enterprise in the Biobío Region handling industrial cargo, forestry exports, and aquaculture. Direct peer under the same state enterprise model, member of Corporacion de Puertos del Cono Sur alongside EPAUSTRAL.
• Empresa Portuaria Antofagasta: Chilean state-owned port enterprise in northern Chile, primarily handling mining exports. Direct peer under the same state-owned enterprise model, member of Corporacion de Puertos del Cono Sur with EPAUSTRAL, with comparable governance and tariff-based revenue structure.
• Empresa Portuaria Arica: Chilean state-owned port enterprise managing Puerto Arica in the country's far north. Peer under the same legal structure (autonomous state enterprise), with similar SEP oversight and member of Corporacion de Puertos del Cono Sur alongside EPAUSTRAL.
• Empresa Portuaria Iquique: Chilean state-owned port enterprise in Iquique serving mining and regional commerce. Direct peer under the same state-owned autonomous enterprise framework, member of Corporacion de Puertos del Cono Sur, and operates with comparable tariff-based service offerings.
• Empresa Portuaria Puerto Montt: Chilean state-owned port enterprise in Puerto Montt, the gateway port for the Chilean Lake District and a key southern Chile node. Closest geographic peer to EPAUSTRAL in mainland Chile, sharing similar customer mix (ferry, regional cargo, passenger) and member of Corporacion de Puertos del Cono Sur.

Others

• Dirección General del Territorio Marítimo (DIRECTEMAR) - Armada de Chile: Chilean Navy's maritime authority responsible for maritime signaling, navigation safety, and port-related regulations in Chilean waters. Acts as a regulatory partner and operational collaborator with EPAUSTRAL (e.g., maritime signaling inspections, heritage events at Terminal Arturo Prat), making it an adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/epaustral
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@empresaportuariaaustral7934
• Facebookfacebook.com/Epaustral
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empresa-portuaria-austral-epaustral
• Instagraminstagram.com/epaustral

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Empresa Portuaria Austral