Brazil signed 52 contracts for private use port terminals for US$2.8 billion in 2021

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian Federal Government, through the Ministry of Infrastructure, ended 2021 with two historic numbers: 52 authorization contracts signed for the operation of private use terminals (TUPs) and US$2.8 billion in private investments.

Last year, 17 new authorizations and 35 contractual modifications were signed by companies spread across 14 states of the Federation in all regions of Brazil.

Compared to the previous year, the increase was 5.86% between new contracts and modifications. Moreover, the 2021 performance exceeds that recorded in 2018, until then record holder since the Ports Law (Law 12,815/2013) came into force. At that time, 34 TUPs were authorized with investments of US$2.3 billion.

According to the National Secretary of Ports and Water Transportation, Diogo Piloni, in addition to energizing the economy and generating jobs, the initiatives make Brazil more competitive. “Credibility, seriousness, and stability are essential to make partnerships, and the private initiative has had this assurance. This year, we will continue to expand our list of contracts, further strengthening the country’s port sector,” he said.

HIGHLIGHTED CASES

Porto Central (Espírito Santo State) is one of the three projects that received the most significant injection of resources. With an additional US$796 million, the port reached more than US$1.2 billion in investments. The terminal is tripling its size and increasing its capacity to handle containerized cargo, bulk, liquid cargo, and gas.

The Brites Port Terminal (São Paulo State) also stood out, with US$557 million in financial investments, investments to expand the area, and a profile change for multi-cargo (excluding containers).

A novelty in the ranking is the Private Use Terminal of Bahia State, located in Ilhéus. It is a new authorization with a general cargo, bulk, and liquid cargo profile and an investment of US$397 million.

PROJECTIONS

By 2022, the National Secretariat of Ports and Aquatic Transportation (SNPTA) forecasts that investments in ports for private use, from new contracts, greenfields, and regularizations, will be more than US$7.7 billion. The list of contracts to be signed may reach 53 projects, including new and modified ones.