APM Terminals Pecém Sets New Records and Boosts Fruit Exports

Despite the challenges faced by the port market in 2023, APM Terminals Pecém has been excelling at its operational performance since the beginning of this year. In October, the terminal broke its record for container throughput, registering 55,000 TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) handled. This marked the highest volume ever recorded in the history of APM Terminals Pecém, which has already seen an 11% growth year-to-date from January to October 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.

Daniel Rose, CEO of APM Terminals Pecém, attributes this success to the adaptability of the terminal. “Our agile response to increased demand ensured the continuity of services with high security. We pledge our commitment to the Port of Pecém and, especially, to the fruit sector in the Northeast region, strengthening the role of Ceará as a port hub with a strong presence in exports.”

Historically, October and November have been the peak months, mainly due to the high demand for fruit exports to Europe and the United States. The strategic location of APM Terminals Pecém contributes to the success of such operations due to its geographical proximity, enabling faster delivery of domestically produced food to the final destination.

The port authority of the Pecém Complex predicts that fruit exports will reach 180,000 tonnes, 10,000 more than the previous season (2022/2023). It is also estimated that shipments will involve more than 7,200 refrigerated containers carrying products grown in Pernambuco, Bahia, Ceará, and Rio Grande do Norte.

“We are optimistic about the future and committed to investing and growing together with Ceará and other neighboring states, linking our success to the region’s sustainable economic development. We will continue to improve operations, expand infrastructure, and promote sustainability and social responsibility in all our activities,” adds Daniel Rose.

Marcelo Gurgel, Commercial Manager of APM Terminals Pecém, confirms that “in addition to a 23% growth in fruit exports in the last three months, the terminal also played a crucial supporting role for operations destined to Manaus, which is experiencing the worst drought in the history of the Amazon region.” During this period, the terminal experienced high demand for containers and acted as an operational point for receiving a significant portion of the cargo volume for Manaus from various shippers.

“Our terminal was prepared for this challenge, and all the investments made in equipment, personnel, and specific areas proved effective for transshipments and maintaining constant alignment with various shippers and the Pecém Complex,” adds André Gonzaga, Operations Manager at APM Terminals Pecém.

The chart below compares container exports and imports from the Port of Pecém between Jan 2019 and Sep 2023, according to data obtained through Datamar’s maritime intelligence service DataLiner.

Container exports and imports | Port of Pecém | Jan 2019 – Sep 2023 | TEU

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

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