Santos container terminal productivity down by 20% as dockers strike continues

According to reports from The Journal of Commerce (JOC), terminal productivity is down by as much as 20% at the Port of Santos causing cargo delays, as a result of the dockers strike which started on 1 March. The five key Santos terminal operators – Brasil Terminal Portuaria (BTP), DP World Santos, Libra Terminais, Santos Brasil, and Ecoporto Santos – have been permitted to use 100% of contracted workers from the beginning of March as a result of a High Labor Court (TST) decision.

In efforts to prevent incursion by striking dockers, BTP built a wall of empty containers around the perimeter of their terminal facility, JOC reports. Last year, striking dockworkers boarded a CMA CGM vessel, causing disruption in the port.

The Santos Dockworkers Union (Sindestiva) is accusing the terminals of using labour that does not have qualification for the stevedore function, however, the Santos port authority (Sopesp) continues to argue that there is now no need to hire casual workers. However, with a 25% reduction in stevedore numbers, it is likely that the terminals will need to hire more workers soon. JOC reports that of the 3,500 freelance workers, 500-600 may be hired directly from the port once tensions settle.

The following graph shows all the five Santos container terminals export figures since 2009:

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