Shipping wine; The Argentina and Chile border in winter

Argentina, one of the top ten wine-producing countries, owes much of its reputation to the Mendoza region, which produces 70% of the country's wines. The high-altitude vineyards that give these wines their distinct flavor poses some logistical challenges. Shippers of wines from this region have two choices; shipping the wine from Argentina’s port Buenos Aires or crossing the Argentina and Chile border, to send them via Chilean ports.

Let’s take a closer look at the logistical challenges in winter and key considerations for planning your shipments journey.

What is the Argentina and Chile border pass?

The Paso Internacional Los Libertadores, also known as the Cristo Redentor International Pass, is the most important mountain pass on the Trans-Andean Highway between the Argentina and Chile border. It is located in the Central Andes, at an altitude of over 3,175 meters. It began operating in January 1977 and remains the central route for transporting goods from Argentina to Chilean ports.

The Los Libertadores Border Complex is situated at the top of the pass, within the 3.08-kilometer-long Cristo Redentor tunnel that runs through the Andes mountains. This is where all border formalities are performed.

The Argentina and Chile border pass is the main transport route linking Santiago de Chile with Los Andes and the Mendoza region in Argentina. It plays a crucial role in the country’s wine export industry, enabling the efficient movement of shipments between the two countries.

The pass is famous not only for the Cristo Redentor statue at its summit, but also for its extreme weather conditions in winter (May to September). Heavy snowfalls often lead to temporary road closures, heavily impacting freight transport.

Why should you cross the Argentina and Chile border to ship your wine?

Pass closures are just one of the challenges to consider during the South American winter. Severe weather conditions, including high winds and large waves on the Pacific Ocean, can also disrupt vessel schedules, particularly at the Chilean San Antonio Port.

However, despite potential delays, the Chilean route through Valparaíso is still the faster and more cost-effective alternative. This is compared to the less challenging but more expensive freight route to the Buenos Aires harbor in Argentina.

For example, shipping wine from Mendoza through Chile's San Antonio or Valparaíso ports under regular conditions takes an average of 36 hours, with a total transit time of 27 days to reach the United Kingdom. In contrast, the route through Buenos Aires takes a minimum of 72 hours,  to the port and 26 days to the UK. The extra day in local haulage increases costs, making the Argentina and Chile border route more attractive.

When does the winter season start in Argentina and Chile, and how does it affect the pass?

In Argentina and Chile, winter officially starts in June and ends in August. However, challenging weather conditions actually begin earlier, with abundant precipitation during spring and autumn. 

From May to September, shipments from Argentina transiting through Chilean ports ( Valparaíso or San Antonio) often face delays due to harsh weather conditions on the road. These delays are particularly common on the pass between Mendoza (Argentina) and the Chilean border. As a result, from May until September, even with moderate delays (3 or 4 hours), not all trucks make it through the border on time. 

For instance, on August 26th, 2024, the pass between Mendoza and the Chilean ports of San Antonio and Valparaíso was reopened after weather closures and road clearing.

These closures and seasonal disruptions are a key factor wine importers should take into account  when planning shipments.  Delays and congestion that might increase overall transit times could result in unplanned charges (e.g., demurrage fees).

What can you do if you still need to send shipments during these winter months?

Transporting wine during the winter months between the Argentina and Chile border pass requires careful planning. So what can you do to better manage your shipments during this time?

1. Store your wine in our bonded warehouse near the Chilean ports

Storing the wine near the loading ports can prevent delays. Use our bonded warehouses near Chilean ports to hold a stock of your wine. Upon arrival at our specially conditioned wine storage warehouses, the wine will be stored safely until you’re ready to ship it. This alternative offers several financial and strategic benefits, such as:

• Continuous order flow, preventing break stocks and sales losses. 
• Lower costs, as the wines are sent to the warehouses in box trucks instead of containers, allowing up to 20% additional gross weight. 
• Flexibility. Being near the port enables you to respond quickly to changes in demand thereby increasing competitiveness.
• Minimized additional costs associated with truck delay or container demurrage/detention. 
• Reduced carbon emissions in relation to the transport journey (CO2e gas emission). 

A key point to know, is that Argentinian wines enter Chile on a temporary admission.  The wines can only remain for a limited number of days before being shipped. The timer starts from the moment they cross the border and enter Chile. If the limited time is exceeded, fines will be issued by the local customs authority.

2. Protect your wines from extreme temperatures conditions with an insulation liner

Temperature changes can impact wine shipments. To protect against this, you should use insulation liners or refrigerated containers. 

Our patented insulated liners are an excellent option. They offer a 23% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to reefer containers and are recyclable. We can also show you historical weather data for your planned route to help you make the best choices for your shipment, like container type.

3. Use Buenos Aires as your port of departure

When necessary, the port of Buenos Aires can also be an alternative. Nevertheless, you should take into account its limitations, such as space availability and costs.

How Hillebrand Gori can help

Shipping alcoholic beverages across the Argentina and Chile border in winter can be complex, but we can help you with the right strategies.

Our office receives and publishes official reports from Control Fronterizo Los Libertadores about roads and pass closures and reopenings daily. To minimize risks of delays and costs, we advise you to routinelycheck our webpageduring this season and consider the following different loading options.

Reviewed by Hillebrand Gori