JBS Terminais at Port of Itajaí Tops 800,000 TEUs, Expands Reefer Infrastructure

JBS Terminais at the Port of Itajaí in Santa Catarina handled more than 800,000 TEUs, the equivalent of 20-foot containers, during its first two years of operations. In a performance update released Oct. 13, the company said it had invested nearly R$250 million since October 2024 and announced a further R$15.2 million investment in cargo inspection and truck access.

According to the company, container throughput increased 62% from its first year of operations to its second. Between January and September 2026, the terminal handled nearly 500,000 TEUs, 73% more than during the same period in 2022, before operations were suspended.

The chart below shows the main export cargoes handled at the Port of Itajaí in the first eight months of 2026, according to Datamar:

Main Export Cargoes | Port of Itajaí | Jan-Aug 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner – explore our trade data

Reefer Infrastructure

Infrastructure for refrigerated containers, known as reefers, now includes more than 1,700 electrical outlets. The facilities can accommodate products requiring temperature control, including meat and seafood, making them particularly relevant to animal protein exporters.

The figures released by the company, however, refer to total container throughput rather than refrigerated cargo alone.

Yard Expansion and Modernization

The operator reported annual capacity of up to 600,000 TEUs. Another project, still nearing completion, will expand the terminal’s operational yard area by 25% and is expected to add capacity for 80,000 TEUs per year by incorporating space made available after the demolition of the former Warehouse 3.

The investment announced this month includes X-ray equipment that can inspect containers without opening them, as well as an increase in truck gates from eight to 10, with two new weighing lanes.

Previous investments also included cranes, cargo-handling equipment and 25 trucks used in internal operations.

New Foreign Trade Routes

JBS Terminais at the Port of Itajaí currently serves 10 regular shipping services, providing connections to Asia, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. Another service connecting the terminal with Asia is expected to begin in October, while an additional international route has been announced for January 2027.

“The next step is to continue preparing the terminal to receive more cargo and offer new connections to industry in southern Brazil,” JBS Terminais President Aristides Russi Junior said.

The expansion could broaden logistics options for shippers, but does not in itself represent a confirmed increase in meat exports.

Employment and Port Operations

According to the company, its workforce has grown from 77 to 405 employees since operations began, in addition to around 600 indirect jobs.

JBS Terminais operates the area under a temporary lease agreement that was extended in 2025 for up to two years or until the terminal’s future auction, according to Brazil’s Federal Court of Accounts (TCU).

Source: Feed Food

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