Port of Açu and NOV sign agreement to expand operations in Brazil

Port of Açu and NOV (National Oilwell Varco), a multinational specializing in the manufacturing of flexible pipes for the offshore industry, have signed an agreement to expand the company’s operations at the port-industrial complex located in northern Rio de Janeiro. The project includes a 30,000 m² expansion of the company’s area, increasing from the current 121,000 m² to 151,000 m².

The new contract, valid through 2047, will enhance logistics and storage capacity for flexible pipes and related equipment. NOV has operated at Port of Açu for over 10 years and maintains one of its main global production units for this type of equipment at the site, in addition to operations in Denmark and Scotland.

“The expansion of NOV’s operations reinforces Açu’s role as a strategic hub for the oil and gas market in Brazil. We continue to attract investments and expand the infrastructure needed to support the growth of the entire industry chain in the country,” said João Braz, director of terminals and logistics at Port of Açu.

The company’s Brazilian facility has the capacity to produce approximately 220 km of flexible pipes per year and includes storage areas, quality-testing facilities, and direct quay access for offshore shipments. The new space will primarily be dedicated to storage and logistical support, improving operational efficiency and enabling the company to meet new demands from the exploration and production (E&P) market.

In addition to leasing the area, Port of Açu will also provide engineering services for the construction of the company’s new logistics structure. Construction is expected to begin in the first half of this year, with operations scheduled to start in early 2027.

Port of Açu accounts for approximately 30% of Brazil’s oil exports and serves the entire oil and gas value chain, from exploration to decommissioning. The complex offers deep draft, land with direct quay access, and a service cluster that brings together multiple port and maritime support providers.

Datamar’s Business Intelligence team reveals that crude oil exports accounted for 54.45% of the long-haul outbound operations recorded at the port. The remaining volume consisted of iron ore exports (44.30% of the total) and copper ore (1.25%).

The following details the monthly export throughput recorded at the Port of Açu in Wet Metric Tons:

Port of Açu Exports | Jan 2023 – Jan 2026 | WTMT

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

The Port of Açu hosts the world’s largest offshore support base. In addition to oil-related operations, it also handles iron ore, houses the region’s largest gas-fired thermoelectric park, and invests in renewable energy and low-carbon economy projects.

Source: Port of Açu

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