Personalized services of operational excellence

In 1960, Compañía Chilena de Navegación Interoceánica S.A. founded Agencias Universales S.A. to provide efficient and reliable port services. During the decade, they expanded their fleet, opened offices in several locations and began offering fruit freight forwarding services.

The first port agency activities for Chilean and foreign vessels started.

Agencias Universales S.A. has consolidated its activity as a general and port agent, freight and cargo broker and other maritime business activities, positioning itself as one of the main national agency service companies.

The experience gained in the field of agency services and the need to embrace new challenges drove Agencias Universales S.A. to undergo a reconfiguration. This reorganization of the company boosted its growth and enhanced its international expansion.

After nearly 30 years of leading the agency service activities, a division occurs between Compañía Chilena de Navegación Interoceánica S.A. and Inversiones Cabo Froward S.A., which controls 95% of Agencias Universales S.A.

AGUNSA embarks on an internationalization process, becoming the leading logistics company in Latin America. The company forms strategic alliances and expands its presence by opening offices in countries such as Colombia, Paraguay and Venezuela.

AGUNSA purchases 60% of Agencia Marítima Global S.A. in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and 100% of Marpacífico S.A. in Mendoza, Argentina. Inversiones Marítimas Universales S.A. is established in Panama.

A merger between Compañía Chilena de Navegación Interoceánica S.A. and Inversiones Cabo Froward S.A. is initiated. Agencias Universales S.A. transfers its assets and liabilities to the new entity, forming Agencias Universales S.A. - AGUNSA.

AGUNSA purchases a 40% stake in Agencia Marítima Dodero Argentina S.A. to establish Multitransport International S.A. Additionally, its subsidiary Imupesa opens a terminal in Callao, Peru. With offices in Colombia, AGUNSA strengthens its presence in the region.

Agencia Marítima Dodero Paraguay S.A. is created, with a 40% stake. Through its subsidiary Maritrans, AGUNSA expands its port agency services and stowing operations to Colombia.

AGUNSA broadens its offer of services with the acquisition of a 50% stake in CPT Agencia Marítima S.A. Also, AGUNSA obtains the Arturo Merino Benítez Airport concession through its stake in SCL Terminal Aéreo Santiago S.A. and opens two new offices in Colombia: Cartagena and Buenaventura.

The company begins the establishment of AGUNSA Venezuela by opening offices in Caracas and Valencia.

AGUNSA expanded its logistics operations in both air and land sectors, consolidating its position as a global leader. It focused on technology and adjusted its structure to address the challenges of connectivity and international transfers. It began establishing a presence in the United States with AGUNSA USA, acting as a freight forwarder for CCNI.

AGUNSA expands its logistics and cargo distribution operations through the lease-to-own acquisition of 14 hectares of land and facilities in the Lampa district of Santiago, Chile.

Valparaíso Terminal de Pasajeros S.A. (VTP) is established to develop and exploit facilities for the handling of cruise ship passengers at the Port of Valparaíso, Chile.

AGUNSA secures a 30-year concession to operate Montego Bay International Airport in Jamaica as part of MBJ Airports Limited. It also establishes AGUNSA Shipping Agency in Mexico and becomes the representative for United Airlines and Air Canada.

AGUNSA, in collaboration with SAAM, forms the FIT consortium to operate Port Everglades in the U.S.A. for a period of 10 years.It also establishes AGUNSA Logistics & Distribution with Norton Lilly International in Los Angeles, U.S.A.Additionally, AGUNSA Venezuela S.A. begins operations at Consorcio Tayukay C.A., providing stowing and unstowing services at Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela.

AGUNSA Europa S.A., established in 2005 to offer a range of maritime and logistics services, purchases stakes in several Spanish companies, including 99.90% of Reconsa Logística S.L., 49.50% of SICSA Rail Transport S.A., 42.50% of Terminales Marítimas S.A. and 50.00% of Agencia Marítima Trasatlántica Limitada of Portugal.

AGUNSA Argentina and AGUNSA Italy are inaugurated as subsidiaries of AGUNSA. The company ventured into Asia with the acquisition of Compañía Chilena de Navegación Interoceánica S.A. (CCNI).

AGUNSA expands its presence in Central America with the establishment of subsidiaries AGUNSA Costa Rica S.A., AGUNSA Guatemala S.A., AGUNSA Honduras S.A. and AGUNSA El Salvador S.A. It also ventures into nautical tourism by purchasing vessel AGUNSA Tonina, which is integrated to its maritime transportation services in Puerto Natales.

AGUNSA Uruguay and AGUNSA Brazil join as subsidiaries of AGUNSA Argentina. AGUNSA Panama is also established in partnership with a local operator. AGUNSA signs a contract to represent Emirates in both passenger and cargo air transportation and secures a 15-year concession to operate Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Airport in Punta Arenas, Chile.

AGUNSA establishes AGUNSA Representaciones S.A. de C.V. in Mexico and CCNI Perú S.A. in Chile It also purchases catamaran AGUNSA Orca to enhance passenger tourism and secures the concession for El Loa Airport in Calama.

It strengthened its international presence through a partnership with BorgoTerminal Containers SRL in Italy, aiming to enhance its logistics operations and container storage. In Brazil, it established a new container depot through Atlantis Rio Terminais Containers Ltda. Simultaneously, it diversified its logistics services in the United States with the creation of Modal Trade USA, an initiative aimed at optimizing intermodal transport and facilitating trade.

AGUNSA, through the company Consorcio Aeroportuario de La Serena, is awarded the 10-year concession for La Serena Airport in Chile.

AGUNSA purchases a NVOCC license to manage its logistics operations in China, covering copper unstuffing and shipment coordination with shipping agencies. It also begins offering Passenger Services at Santiago Airport and expands operations to Nicaragua.

AGUNSA strengthens its leadership in land, sea, and air transportation, with a presence in 21 countries across the Americas. This growth is driven by substantial investments in financial and technological resources, enabling the company to offer first-class services to its partners and clients.

The sale of CCNI's container services to Hamburg Süd prompted AGUNSA to cease providing Port and General Agency services. Consequently, AGUNSA has focused its growth on diversifying its business and service areas.

AGUNSA expands its presence in Central America with its subsidiary AGUNSA Costa Rica S.A., AGUNSA Guatemala S.A., AGUNSA Honduras S.A. and AGUNSA El Salvador S.A. In addition, also ventures into nautical tourism by acquiring the vessel AGUNSA Tonina, which is integrated to its maritime transportation services in Puerto Natales.

AGUNSA has diversified its business by enhancing productivity and reducing costs through the use of technology. A key highlight is the 40-year concession of the Port of Manta in Ecuador. AGUNSA Central America is experiencing growth, while AGUNSA Mexico continues to expand its operations.

After obtaining the International Quality (ISO 9001:2015) and Environmental (ISO 14001:2015) Management Standards Certifications, AGUNSA continues its growth in Latin America with the representation of Aerolíneas Argentinas Cargo, the concession of Puerto Montt Airport (Chile), and the opening of a new Distribution Center in Bogotá.

In Chile, the company secured the concession for Chacalluta Airport in Arica, along with the Ocean Network Express document services. In Colombia and Guatemala, AGUNSA expanded its presence with the acquisition of Maritrans and stuffing services operations, respectively.

United Airlines ramp operations took place at Santiago AMB Airport. IGNOUS, a drone remote surveillance company, was also purchased. In Colombia and Peru, AGUNSA continued to expand its presence with general agency services, standing out as the only mining transit warehouse.

AGUNSA was awarded the four-year operation of Terminal 2 in Valparaíso, increasing its presence in the Chilean port city. In Peru, it won the General Motors bid, related to automotive services. In Panama, the company was appointed as the shipping agent for Panama Canal transits, and in the United States, AGUNSA USA acquired the Brickell Office.

AGUNSA Chile inaugurates two logistics centers in Noviciado and La Pólvora.Moreover, in Colombia, the company began offering ship agency services, while in Mexico, they signed a contract with IDEALSA for land transportation services. Globally, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) provides sustainable financing for logistics.

The Pact for Water Security—an initiative aimed at reducing global water consumption—was entered into. In Argentina, operations in Puerto Nuevo San Nicolás took place. In Peru, the tire transportation service was launched, while in Bolivia, new AGUNSA offices were opened in Santa Cruz. SOLMIN initiated operations in the mining industry, while UNIVERSAL SHIPPING began representing ZIM for a new transportation service.

Highlights include the early renewal of the Logistics and Transportation Operator contract for Sierra Gorda and the beginning of a new agreement with Antofagasta Minerals in Chile. Additionally, for the first time, a woman was appointed to lead a Regional Office in Copiapó. The company earned the 2023 Huella Chile certification and was recognized by APRIMIN for its commitment to safety in mining. Meanwhile, AGUNSA USA rebranded as AGS, made strategic investments in Omni Transloading & Logistics and Omni Bulk Services, and strengthened its maritime presence by signing lease agreements at the Port of Tampa Bay.