Brazil’s Santos Port Bunker Expansion Delayed to 2026, Raising Export Bottleneck Fears

The supply of bunker fuel — essential for maritime navigation — at the Port of Santos, which already accounts for 50% of all national bunkering, remains far from reaching full capacity. The highly anticipated operations at Wing 2 of the Alamoa terminal, initially scheduled for October 2024, have been postponed and are now only expected to begin by the end of 2026 in the most optimistic scenario. Wings 3 and 4 are not likely to come online until 2028.

Despite promises of new vessels entering operation in 2025 and ongoing discussions around creating anchorage areas, bottlenecks persist. As a key hub for the export of Brazil’s soybean and corn harvests, the Port of Santos may face serious logistical constraints during peak periods. Brazil is becoming increasingly attractive in the global grain trade, making such logistical delays even more costly.

On the positive side, there is room for political coordination and pressure. SINDAMAR (the shipping agency union) has already initiated talks with the Ministry of Ports and the Navy to accelerate solutions. However, the warning remains: if Brazil aims to be a global agricultural leader, it must ensure its infrastructure is up to the challenge.

Source: Notícias Agrícolas

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