Cargo handling grows in the Port of Itaqui

The Port of Itaqui reached the end of the first quarter of 2022 with 6.2 million tonnes of cargo handled, up 5% compared to the same period last year. Soybeans once again were the star of the show, with a volume growth of 29%. Corn also stood out, growing 137% from 2021 Q1.

In March alone, the Port of Itaqui handled 2.5 million tonnes, making it the best March in the history of the public port. The terminal also set a record for soybeans by handling 1.48 million tonnes of the oilseed, toppling the 1.43 million tonnes mark set in 2015. In addition, the volume of petroleum derivates handled for the domestic market also reached new rights, with 393 .9 thousand tonnes.

In full expansion

The Port of Itaqui has been expanding its infrastructure and investing to attain greater productivity in grain outflow as well as meet the demand of the entire agribusiness logistics chain, which also includes fuel and fertilizers.

With Tegram’s expansion, which includes two berths in simultaneous activity, in addition to the VLI terminal, Itaqui expects to close 2022 with a handled volume beyond  3.9 million tonnes of grains.

In the case of fertilizers, the COPI terminal, which started operating a year ago, can handle up to 3.5 million tonnes of fertilizers per year and allow up to a threefold productivity increase in berth 101. The expectation for the terminal is to have handled 3.5 million tonnes by the end of the year.

Any retraction in fertilizer imports, which arrive mainly from Russia, should be offset by higher volumes imported from other markets, such as Canada, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, and Iran.

The expansion of the liquid bulk terminals, rail access improvements, and the advancement of the rail loop project (in the medium to long term) is to occur over the year,

At the beginning of the month, the construction of Granel Química’s terminal 1 was completed, increasing Itaqui’s storage capacity to 96 thousand cubic meters, an increase of about 30%. The movement of liquid bulk estimated for this year is 9.2 million tonnes.

Suzano’s investment in the public port, berth 99, was also completed this month, including a soon-to-be-completed warehouse.  In an auction held in 2018, the company secured the right to invest and explore the area for 25 years. The contract is renewable up to a limit of 70 years. This infrastructure is strategic for expanding the export volume of paper pulp produced in Imperatriz (MA).

In addition to the private investments in the public port, the state-owned port administrator EMAP announced, in March, a package of investments worth R$ 500 million to be employed over the next three years. This package includes the enhancement of the quay structure, technology improvement projects, sanitation, and a set of initiatives to strengthen the cargo handling capacity of the Port of Itaqui.

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