Port of São Sebastião offers 35% fee discount to attract new dry bulk cargoes

The Port of São Sebastião, in São Paulo state, has introduced a 35% discount on port fees for dry bulk cargoes that are not currently part of the terminal’s cargo mix.

The measure, approved by the board of Companhia Docas de São Sebastião and already in effect, is intended to attract new business, increase the use of available infrastructure and strengthen the port’s competitiveness in São Paulo’s logistics market.

The discount applies to mineral and agricultural dry bulk cargoes that are not currently handled by the port. Gypsum, a raw material used in cement and fertilizer production, is one of the cargoes being assessed by the port authority, though it is not the only one.

The discount policy is based on productivity studies. The analysis considers the terminal’s daily handling rate — a measure of how much cargo can be moved per day — and the impact of each operation on the cost of the public infrastructure made available by the port.

The reasoning is straightforward: the more efficient the operation, the lower the infrastructure cost per tonne handled. On that basis, the port authority believes it can reduce fees without undermining the financial balance of the operation.

In the case of gypsum, studies point to potential handling of around 8,000 tonnes per day. The cargo also has a strategic advantage: operations can continue during rainy periods, reducing interruptions and keeping the berth available for new vessels.

The move comes as São Sebastião seeks to diversify its cargo base. The port operates with one berth dedicated to long-haul shipping, making loading and unloading speed a key factor in how much cargo the terminal can handle.

According to Port of São Sebastião President Ernesto Sampaio, the goal is to create conditions to attract new cargo flows without increasing operating costs.

“When an operation delivers productivity gains, the entire chain benefits: the port makes better use of its infrastructure, the operator reduces costs and the state expands its logistics capacity,” he said.

The port administration expects the model to encourage new dry bulk operations and help increase São Sebastião’s role in São Paulo’s logistics chains.

Source: Agência SP

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