Record-breaking productivity achieved at Fortepar Terminal in Port of Paranaguá

Fortepar, a specialized terminal in the Port of Paranaguá for the storage and handling of general cargo and bagged sugar, achieved record-breaking productivity during its initial operations between June 3rd and 10th.

In just 12 hours, the Fortepar terminal loaded 3,003 tonnes of bagged sugar onto the vessel Halit Yildirim, surpassing the port’s minimum plank requirement by 70%. The Port of Paranaguá mandates a minimum of 3,500 tonnes loaded within 24 hours.

Operating from a 6AB warehouse within the port facilities in Paraná, Fortepar successfully shipped 25,000 tonnes of bagged sugar for export to South Africa.

“Our team demonstrated efficiency and agility, delivering exceptional results for our customers. We completed this shipment in just 8 days, whereas it typically takes 10 days,” stated Valdecio Bombonatto, CEO of Grupo FTS Par, which secured the terminal concession.

Sugar Market

Brazil holds the position of the world’s largest sugar exporter. According to the 1st Sugarcane Survey conducted by the National Supply Company (Conab), sugarcane production for the 2023/2024 harvest is projected to grow by 4.4% compared to the previous cycle, reaching an estimated 637.1 million tonnes.

The same Conab survey predicts sugar production in the Center-South region to reach 38.77 million tonnes, the second-highest level recorded in history, trailing only the 2020/2021 season, which reached 41.25 million tonnes.

Marcelo Alves, representing MPAX – Logística e Participações, responsible for commercial operations, explains the current market dynamics for bagged sugar.

“Brazil is the largest exporter on the global market, followed by India and Thailand. However, these two countries have faced reduced sugar supplies for export in recent years, allowing Brazil to fill the gap and gain market share.”

With decreased supply, sugar prices tend to rise. Since 2020, the price of a bag of sugar has doubled. “In 2023, sugar prices reached their highest levels since 2012. Without taxes, sugar is priced at approximately BRL 147 per 50-kilogram bag. The Brazilian sugar market is expected to remain active until 2025,” concludes Marcelo.

Fortepar

The lease agreement for the Fortepar area, known as PAR 32, within the Port of Paranaguá, was awarded to the FTS Par Group, a company with over 35 years of experience in the port sector.

The auction, organized by the public company Portos do Paraná, took place at the São Paulo Stock Exchange in March 2022, and the contract was finalized earlier this year.

Fortepar is specifically designed for the handling and storing of general cargo, big bags, and, notably, bagged sugar. The terminal covers an area of 6,651 square meters. The new concession holder is undertaking renovation and expansion investments, increasing the static storage capacity to 150,000 tonnes.

During this harvest, the expectation for sugar loads in bags and big bags alone is to handle 720,000 tonnes.

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