Brazil’s Port of Santana opens Asia route, eyes expansion with new terminal auction

Brazil’s northern logistics corridor is gaining momentum as the Port of Santana, in the state of Amapá, consolidates new long-haul shipping routes and prepares for capacity expansion through the auction of a new terminal area.

Operated by Companhia Docas de Santana (CDSA), the port has been working to reduce Brazil’s reliance on southern and southeastern gateways by establishing direct connections with global markets. The most notable development is a new maritime route linking Santana to the Port of Gaolan, in Zhuhai, China, which is expected to cut transit times between the two countries by up to 30 days.

Infrastructure and productivity

To support rising demand, the port has commissioned a new shiploader with an investment of 80 million reais. The equipment has a loading capacity of 1,500 tonnes per hour and is expected to significantly boost efficiency in handling solid bulk cargoes.

Operational indicators for 2025 already reflect this expansion. Cargo throughput rose 13.5% from the previous year, according to CDSA. The port authority said current priorities include improving draft conditions and upgrading equipment to accommodate growing export flows to Asia, Europe and North America.

Next step: MCP 01 terminal auction

A key milestone in the port’s expansion strategy is scheduled for Feb. 26, when Brazil’s waterway regulator Antaq will auction the MCP 01 terminal area.

The terminal covers 30,546 square meters and is designed to handle wood chips and vegetable solid bulk cargoes, primarily for long-haul export trades.

The following breakdown, based on Datamar’s DataLiner platform, highlights the top commodities exported through the Port of Santana in 2025:

Port of Santana | Key Exports | 2025 | WTMT

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Industry sources see the concession as a critical step toward positioning Santana as an international hub, leveraging its geographic proximity to the Panama Canal and North Atlantic shipping lanes.

Regional and strategic impact

The diversification of trade corridors — now extending to the Caribbean and the United States — has supported local economic activity and job creation linked to foreign trade. CDSA President Edival Tork said continued investment is essential to sustain the port’s growth trajectory.

“Recent growth requires ongoing infrastructure investment, from pier expansion to the leasing of new areas,” Tork said. “The Port of Santana is now an active player in international logistics.”

As it becomes more deeply integrated into Brazil’s northern export arc, the Port of Santana is strengthening Amapá’s role in foreign trade while offering shippers a competitive alternative for moving Brazilian commodities, with lower logistics costs and shorter delivery times to major global consumer markets.

Source: Docas de Santana

Sharing is caring!