APM Terminals Pecém sets cargo handling records 2 months in a row

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, APM Terminals Pecém broke two consecutive records this year, with its best performance in September, with 41,000 TEUs, followed by a record result in October, of 46,705 TEUs. In the first 10 months, the Pecém Terminal handled 309,051 TEUs, an increase of 7.9% over the same period in 2019.

In addition, in the south of Brazil, the volume handled by APM Terminals Itajaí grew by double digits in 2020, maintaining the pattern of the last three years. Up to October, the terminal handled more than 457 thousand TEUs, up 13.4% from 403 thousand in the same period of the previous year. The Terminal is expected to surpass the million TEU mark by December. Like Pecém’s “brother” terminal, Itajaí had its busiest month on record in October, with 53,000 TEUs. Growth exceeded 200% on a cumulative basis between 2017 and 2020.

Consolidation in the Northeast

According to the company, the strategic location of Port of Pecém is among the main drivers of the company’s growth in the northeast. Other factors include larger ships with greater cargo capacity, the weaker Brazilian real, and economic recovery ahead of special dates, including Black Friday, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, in addition to the efficient operations offered by the terminal.

These volumes have been supported by important advances in the APM Terminals in Pecém that have allowed the arrival of larger ships such as the MSC Shuba B, 330 m long and 48.2 m beam, that arrived in August, the largest ship ever moored in the state. This giant also marked the beginning of the fruit harvest in Ceará.

The Port of Pecém also opened berth 10, which increased the terminal’s operational capacity. “Seeing the cranes running along the tracks was a milestone for the APM Terminals in Pecém. With a length of 300 m, the new berth positions Pecém among a small select group of ports in Latin America that can receive new Panamax vessels with drafts up to 15.3 m. The new cradle also optimizes our docking window system, reducing waiting times, ”says Daniel Rose, Managing Director of APM Terminals Pecém.

The 2020 recovery was greater than expected, according to André Magalhães, Commercial Director of APM Terminals Pecém. “We did not expect such a strong and rapid recovery early in the third quarter. Cabotage, with its six regular lines to Pecém, has strongly resisted the impact of COVID-19, consolidating itself as a logistical solution for the region”, he says.

Magalhães adds that the numbers were also driven by the large fruit harvest, with melons, watermelons, grapes, and mangoes from the São Francisco valley destined for the American and European markets. “We started this year with a 17% growth in exports of mango to the United States and APM Terminals handled practically 70% of the entire volume of the São Francisco Valley. Regarding melons, we moved 100% of the volumes this year thanks to larger ships and a greater commitment of the shipping companies to local customers, avoiding all port call cancellations.”

Reefer exports also jumped 70% in volume compared to the same period last year, with 16,800 TEU handled against 9,900 the previous year.

Increase in imports

In Itajaí, frozen exports and the resumption of imports in the second half drove the rapid growth of the terminals. Of the 10 largest in Brazil, APM Terminals was the only one to register growth in imports until August this year, according to data from DataLiner. Regarding exports, APM Terminals Itajaí was among four of the 10 largest terminals that experienced an increase, with the greatest growth, 21%, until August, also according to data from DataLiner.

According to the Managing Director of APM Terminals Itajaí, Aristides Russi Júnior, several factors explain this growth “We can cite several reasons, including the weaker Brazilian real and strong industry, mainly in exports. Our terminal also saw a significant increase in its market share among the ports in Santa Catarina ”.

In addition to new services in Itajaí, the port itself inaugurated its largest maneuvering basin in 2020. With the new basin, the terminal now receives vessels up to 350m with a 48m beam. In addition, APM Terminals Itajaí invested more than 2 million euros in reach stackers in the second half of last year, improving operational capacity.

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