Terminal at Port of Santos Secures New Contract but Faces an Uncertain Future

The Santos Port Authority (APS) and Ecoporto, a terminal operated by the Ecorodovias Group, have signed a transition contract to extend operations at the Saboó pier in Santos until June 2025. The agreement was announced to shareholders in a material fact statement on Monday (2).

According to the statement, if the bidding process for leasing the area is not finalized within 180 days, a new contract may be established to ensure the continuity of operations. However, it is worth noting that Ecoporto currently occupies part of the STS10 area, which the Federal Government plans to auction next year to develop a mega-container terminal, though it has raised concerns that Ecoporto may lose its operational space.

Lease Renewals

Ecoporto’s original 25-year lease agreement was signed on June 12, 1998, and expired in June 2023. Since then, the lease has been temporarily extended every six months.

The first extension covered the period from June 12 to December 9, 2023. It was subsequently renewed until June 5, 2024, and extended until December 2024. The recently signed transition contract comes into effect with the temporary lease ending; this effectively rules out any further lease renewal, potentially marking the end of Ecoporto’s operations at the Santos pier.

Currently, Ecoporto Santos operates on a 136,400-square-meter (m²) portion of the STS10 area, which spans 601,000 m². The Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) announced last week that the auction for the STS10 area is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025.

When contacted by press agency A Tribuna, Ecoporto Santos said, “The contract aligns with the guidelines established by the competent authorities and reflects Ecoporto’s commitment to continuing operations with excellence and safety, efficiently serving its clients and partners.”

Concerns of Workers

Bruno José dos Santos, president of the Union of Stevedores of Santos, São Vicente, Guarujá, and Cubatão (Sindestiva), expressed concerns over the potential displacement of Ecoporto. He emphasized: “All dockworkers and  port workers are keen to ensure Ecoporto retains its place because the terminal employs many casual and permanent workers.”

He also clarified that while the workers support the development of a mega-container terminal, other areas within the Port of Santos could accommodate the STS10 project. “Displacing an already established terminal with ongoing operations that provide jobs is unnecessary when alternative sites are available,” he argued.

Source: A Tribuna

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