As Brazil prepares to move forward with the next phase of its privatization efforts for port operations, the independent terminal operators are working to block shipping giants Maersk and MSC from participating in the auction. At stake are the rights to one of the crown jewels in Brazil’s portfolio, a nearly 150-acre site in Santos for a new container terminal Cais do Saboó, more commonly called STS10.
The Santos Port Authority has been working to expand the capabilities of the port announcing in 2021 that they had completed efforts to significantly increase the size of containerships calling at the port from 9,000 to 14,000 TEU. Santos currently handles approximately 4.4 million TEU annually and the new terminal will play a key part in the planned growth to 7.9 million TEU by 2040.
While the government refused to delay the process, they did include a restriction preventing the major carriers from joining together to bid for the terminal. Maersk and MSC currently are joint venture partners in the Brasil Terminal Portuario in Santos and have interests in terminals in other ports around the country.
Source: maritime-executive.com