APM Terminals (APMT) Suape has received permission by Brazil’s National Waterway Transport Agency to alter its cargo portfolio, allowing the terminal to handle containerised cargo and enlarge the terminal’s operational space.
APMT Suape will operate the new container terminal at the Governador Eraldo Gueiros Port Industrial Complex (Suape) in Pernambuco, Brazil.
Operations are expected to commence in 2026 and will expand port competitiveness in the Northeast of the country.
APMT Suape signed the addendum to the adhesion contract for the land at Estaleiro Atlântico Sul (EAS).
The technical signing meeting was held at the Suape Port Authority Auditorium in the presence of the Brazilian Minister of Ports and Airports Silvio Costa Filho, Pernambuco State Governor Raquel Lyra, Suape Industrial Port Complex Director President Marcio Guiot, APMT Managing Director Leo Huisman, and Managing Director of APMT Suape, Aristides Russi Junior.
“The new container terminal in Suape will benefit from APMT’s global expertise as one of the largest terminal operators in the world,” commented Aristides Junior, Managing Director of APMT Suape.
“It will accelerate the region’s development, increasing port competitiveness in the Northeast of Brazil. We have a lot of work ahead and we are honoured by the trust placed on this project.
“APMT Suape will be the first 100 per cent electrified terminal in Latin America with a R$1.6 billion ($318 million) investment in this first implementation phase.”
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APMT Suape will have a modern infrastructure to meet customers’ needs, with pioneering initiatives in port sustainability.
All equipment will be electric, with cutting-edge technology and processes, such as a complete environmental management system, waste management, wastewater treatment, and groundwater flow modelling for pollution control.
It will also have its own 5G network, which will make possible to transmit information in real time to customers, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, the terminal will have remote-controlled rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTGs), which will increase the agility of the terminal’s operations, positively impacting efficiency and ensuring greater operational safety.
APMT Suape will also reportedly promote the socioeconomic development of the region, which will have greater connectivity, potentially attracting new direct services from Asia and Europe.
“We expect a positive cascading effect, whereby the reduction in transportation costs and prices, will increase the competitiveness of exporters and reduce the cost of imported components (intermediate inputs) and consumer goods,” Aristides Junior added.
“The terminal will positively impact retail and other industries in the Northeast, by increasing berth windows for shipping lines, allowing more vessel and services to call Pernambuco connecting to various ports around the world.”
The future terminal will be able to handle up to 400,000 TEU and will increase the capacity of the port complex by 55 per cent, generating direct and indirect job opportunities.
The construction is expected to begin in 2024, with operations expected to start in the second quarter of 2026.
Earlier this Spring, APMT pledged a €962 million ($1 billion) investment in its Brazilian operations up to 2026.
