Brazil's Port of santos plans to auction development rights for Tecon Santos 10, a US$1.06 billion terminal that would become the largest container facility in South America, reported New York's Journal of Commerce.
The new terminal will boost Santos' annual container capacity by nearly 60 per cent to 8.73 million TEU and accommodate 20,000-TEU ships, many arriving from Asia.
Drewry data shows container volumes at Santos rose 8 per cent year-on-year through July 2025. The port authority expects 3 per cent annual growth, with revenue growing at a compound rate of nearly 11 per cent over five years.
Drewry's Eleanor Hadland said additional capacity is urgently needed. However, the auction process has sparked controversy, with Brazil's waterway agency barring major carriers like Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM from the first round to favour smaller operators.
A Brazilian judge rejected Maersk's bid to halt the auction after the carrier sued over its exclusion. Brazil's Finance Ministry has also opposed the two-phase format, recommending a single-round auction with asset divestment requirements for existing operators.
Concerns have also been raised about the port's road infrastructure. Ms Hadland said improved vessel turnaround must be matched by road network upgrades to ensure operational efficiency.
One such upgrade is the Santos-Guaruja Tunnel, which will cut travel time between the two cities from 40 minutes to just over one minute. Construction is expected to begin later this year, said Port of Santos Press Supervisor Paulo Silveira.
SeaNews Turkey
The new terminal will boost Santos' annual container capacity by nearly 60 per cent to 8.73 million TEU and accommodate 20,000-TEU ships, many arriving from Asia.
Drewry data shows container volumes at Santos rose 8 per cent year-on-year through July 2025. The port authority expects 3 per cent annual growth, with revenue growing at a compound rate of nearly 11 per cent over five years.
Drewry's Eleanor Hadland said additional capacity is urgently needed. However, the auction process has sparked controversy, with Brazil's waterway agency barring major carriers like Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM from the first round to favour smaller operators.
A Brazilian judge rejected Maersk's bid to halt the auction after the carrier sued over its exclusion. Brazil's Finance Ministry has also opposed the two-phase format, recommending a single-round auction with asset divestment requirements for existing operators.
Concerns have also been raised about the port's road infrastructure. Ms Hadland said improved vessel turnaround must be matched by road network upgrades to ensure operational efficiency.
One such upgrade is the Santos-Guaruja Tunnel, which will cut travel time between the two cities from 40 minutes to just over one minute. Construction is expected to begin later this year, said Port of Santos Press Supervisor Paulo Silveira.
SeaNews Turkey
