Port of Aratu begins vegetable bulk operations, targets up to 3 mln tonnes a year

The Port of Aratu-Candeias, located in the Salvador metropolitan region in northeastern Brazil, has begun handling vegetable bulk cargo for the first time in its 51-year history, marking a shift in the port’s operational profile.

The activity started this week at terminal ATU 18 with the loading of 35,000 tonnes of sorghum originating from western Bahia. The shipment marks the start of a new logistics route for exporting the state’s agricultural production.

Originally built in the 1970s to support the logistics needs of the Camaçari petrochemical complex, the port historically focused on cargo linked to petrochemical and mineral industries. With the construction of the ATU 12 and ATU 18 solid bulk terminals, the port expanded its operational capacity, enabling it to process agricultural bulk cargo and diversify its activities.

Antonio Gobbo, president of the federal port authority CODEBA, which manages the Port of Aratu, said the start of operations at ATU 18 represents a new development phase for Bahia’s port sector.

“Economic and social development requires study, planning and action — and that is exactly what we have done,” Gobbo said. “Our goal is for the Port of Aratu to achieve the highest cargo throughput in its history.”

Gobbo noted that the expansion includes enlarging the terminal’s back area, building four silos each with capacity for 30,000 tonnes and automating operations through conveyor systems installed at ATU 18. According to him, the improvements should reduce operating time and costs and increase cargo throughput by more than 20%.

The modernization of the terminal was carried out by CS Portos, a subsidiary of CS Infra within the SIMPAR Group. The company invested more than 400 million reais ($80 million) in upgrading and revitalizing the ATU 18 facility, which is now dedicated to the handling and storage of vegetable bulk cargo, mainly soybeans, corn and sorghum.

Marcos Tourinho, chief executive of CS Portos, said the launch of vegetable bulk operations marks a historic transformation for the Aratu-Candeias port complex and for Bahia’s agribusiness logistics.

“This is a new chapter for the terminal, expanding its strategic relevance by incorporating operations focused on exporting agricultural production,” he said. “Our investments reflect a long-term vision to make key infrastructure assets more modern, efficient and competitive.”

The investment included construction of infrastructure such as grain classifiers, truck dumpers, road hoppers, a vehicle yard and four silos with storage capacity of 30,000 tonnes each. The terminal also received new equipment designed to improve operational efficiency.

Among the key installations is a shiploader dedicated to grain exports with capacity to handle up to 2,000 tonnes per hour. The system will allow the terminal to reach an average productivity of up to 30,000 tonnes per day.

With the new infrastructure, the terminal’s capacity could reach up to 3.5 million tonnes of grains per year. In the first year of operation, throughput is expected to reach up to 3 million tonnes, supported by an initial static storage capacity of 120,000 tonnes.

Following further expansion phases, total annual throughput could rise to as much as 7.5 million tonnes.

The entry of the Port of Aratu-Candeias into the vegetable bulk segment marks a new stage for the port complex and strengthens export logistics for agricultural production from western Bahia.

Source: Tribuna da Bahia

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