APM Terminals Suape receives R$241 million in equipment as project enters final phase

APM Terminals Suape has reached a new milestone in the development of what is set to become Latin America’s first fully electrified container terminal, located at the Suape Industrial Port Complex in Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil.

A total of 28 pieces of equipment ordered from Chinese manufacturer SANY arrived at the port this week, representing an investment of 241 million reais ($48 million) and enabling the start of technical phases required to support terminal operations.

The terminal project involves total investments estimated at 2.1 billion reais. According to Daniel Rose, chief executive of APM Terminals Suape and Pecém, construction is nearing completion.

“This is a crucial milestone for the project, which is now entering the final phase of building the terminal’s core infrastructure,” Rose said.

The following breakdown details the monthly container throughput at the Port of Suape, encompassing both inbound and outbound flows between 2023 and 2026. This data is sourced from Datamar’s DataLiner platform:

Container Throughput | Export & Import | Jan 2023 – Jan 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, said the project strengthens Pernambuco’s strategic role in the country’s logistics network.

“The APM Terminals facility in Suape represents a major step forward for Brazil’s Northeast. It expands port capacity, creates jobs and opens new opportunities for regional development while bringing advanced technology and a more sustainable operational model with electrified equipment,” he said.

Pernambuco Governor Raquel Lyra highlighted public investments aimed at modernizing the Suape port complex.

“In the past three years, we have delivered projects that had been awaited for decades, including dredging of the outer and inner access channels and the rehabilitation of the breakwater,” Lyra said. “The implementation of the APM terminal raises Suape’s profile, increases import and export capacity and reconnects Pernambuco with major global trade routes.”

Armando Monteiro Bisneto, chief executive of the Suape Industrial Port Complex, said the terminal is part of a broader expansion cycle aimed at strengthening the region’s logistics infrastructure.

“The project will attract new business and shipping services while reinforcing Suape’s position as a modern and sustainable logistics hub aligned with the sector’s transformation,” he said.

Construction has already generated more than 2,000 direct jobs, in addition to thousands of indirect positions. Operations are expected to begin in the second half of 2026, with an initial capacity to handle up to 400,000 TEUs per year.

Fully electrified equipment

A key feature of the new terminal equipment is full electrification, eliminating the use of fossil fuels and supporting the company’s global goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2040.

Among the main assets are two ship-to-shore (STS) cranes responsible for loading and unloading vessels. The cranes feature a 70-meter outreach, allowing them to handle ships longer than 366 meters — among the largest currently calling at Brazilian ports.

The terminal will also operate seven rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) for container yard operations, designed to ensure high productivity and operational safety.

Both the STS and RTG cranes will be operated remotely from control rooms, improving ergonomics for operators and expanding accessibility by allowing people with reduced mobility to perform the role.

Unlike traditional equipment that requires access via ladders or elevators, the new model removes these barriers.

The cranes also incorporate advanced technology to improve operational precision and prevent collisions, protecting both cargo and equipment.

The terminal’s equipment portfolio will also include two reach stackers, a 16-ton forklift, two forklifts for empty containers and 14 terminal tractors.

Source: Maerk Group

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