Container Operations at Itajaí Port to Officially Resume on September 13

The Port of Itajaí will officially see container operations again on September 13. Such an announcement was made by JBS/Seara Director Aristides Russi Jr. during a meeting on Monday (August 12) evening at the Itajaí Business Association (ACII).

Another key update revealed is that the company will operate under the name JBS Terminals. The group took over the provisional lease of the container terminal after acquiring a majority stake in Mada Araújo, the company that won the bid.

At the ACII meeting, the JBS/Seara director was invited to discuss the return of operations. Aristides made a brief statement and then answered questions from the audience, which filled the auditorium. “I’m as eager as you are,” he said at the start of the meeting.

When responding to audience questions, the executive emphasized that the port plans to prioritize market needs and not focus solely on refrigerated cargo, as had been questioned. Concerns had been raised that JBS would prioritize its own products, as the group owns brands like Seara and Friboi.

ACII President Gabriela Kelm highlighted the importance of JBS’s announcement in terms of greater transparency in dealing with concerns voiced by the market and society regarding the port’s future. “For us, this is a very big announcement because it brings a bit more reassurance that the port is reopening its doors,” she said.

Since taking over the port, Itajaí Port has already received two container ships. These operations took place in July, with the ships docking at public berths in partnership with SC Portos, the public quay leaseholder.

Regular container line services by JBS/Seara are expected to begin once the terminal receives customs clearance from the Federal Revenue Service. The clearance is anticipated by the end of this week, on the 16th. According to JBS, preliminary agreements with at least five container shipping companies are already in place.

If JBS’s forecast is confirmed, the port will resume activities more than a year after the launch of the temporary lease bid, which was issued on August 25, 2023, by the National Agency for Waterway Transportation (Antaq).

The bidding results were announced in November, with the contract signed in December with Mada Araújo. The company never began operations, and in May, JBS took over the company to manage the port.

Source: Diarinho.net

Original story reporting available at: https://diarinho.net/materia/655284/—Porto-de-Itajai-volta-a-operar-em-setembro—–diz-diretor-da-JBS-Seara–

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