Porto Itapoá inaugurates 3rd expansion phase with investments of R$ 815 million

With the presence of the Governor of the State of Santa Catarina, Jorginho Mello, the State Secretary of Ports, Airports, and Railways, Beto Martins, the Mayor of Itapoá, Jeferson Garcia, authorities from various spheres, intervening bodies, entities, clients, employees, and the press, Porto Itapoá inaugurated on Thursday, April 25th, the phase III expansion of the terminal, with an additional 200,000 m² of yard, including an 8,000 m² warehouse, concluding an investment of R$ 815 million. The Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, traveled from Brasília to Joinville and was unable to reach Itapoá due to weather conditions, but sent a video expressing regret for not being present and reaffirming the importance of Porto Itapoá for the country’s logistical infrastructure.

With this expansion, Porto Itapoá now operates one of the largest container yards in Brazil, with 455,000 m², enabling it to handle up to 2 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) per year. These investments also include the acquisition of large equipment – it is the first in South America to operate remotely controlled hybrid RTGs (Rubber-Tired Gantry Cranes) – and the expansion of berths.

In his speech, the Terminal’s president, Cássio Schreiner, stated that Porto Itapoá has already invested R$ 2.5 billion in its entirety and plans to invest over R$ 2 billion in the coming years. “In recent years, we have been one of the companies that has invested the most in our region. And we do not intend to stop here. We are already planning works to add more yard, more piers, more equipment, and even more people. And this is only possible when the Public Power understands our purpose and creates favorable conditions for private initiative to achieve its goals, helping society and the country in its development strategy, through what we do best, which is to undertake.”

Cássio points out that for these investments to materialize, it is essential that structural projects be prioritized. “We have been working hand in hand, together with the Federal Government, State Government, and the Port Authority of São Francisco do Sul, to enable the dredging project of the Access Channel to Babitonga Bay – which handles over 60% of the state of Santa Catarina’s port cargo. The support of Minister Silvio Costa Filho and Governor Jorginho Mello encourages us to advance with this project, showing that it is possible to build successful public-private partnership models that drive sustainable development, adding social, environmental, and economic value. Equally important is having a strategic look at our road and even railway structures, with the prioritization of the duplication of our state and municipal highways providing access to Porto Itapoá. We believe in the potential and opportunity to have here in Babitonga the largest port complex in the country,” he emphasizes.

Growth driven by major investments

Porto Itapoá was born competitive and is among the most modern in the world, being part of the main shipping services that connect Brazil to other continents. It ranks 4th in the 2023 Aquatic Performance Ranking according to ANTAQ – the National Waterway Transportation Agency. It was the private container terminal with the highest growth in Brazil in 2023, with a 20.3% increase in handling compared to 2022.

Investments have not stopped in recent years, meeting demand and providing a fast-paced growth rate to the enterprise. In December, new Terminal equipment arrived: a new ship-to-shore crane, 50 meters high, and ten new remotely controlled hybrid RTGs, totaling investments of US$ 40 million. With the expansion works of its physical structure, combined with significant investments in technology and innovation, Porto Itapoá surpassed the mark of 1 million TEUs handled in a year. “We have grown year after year, always being among the largest container terminals in Brazil since the beginning of operations. Our planning is developed to achieve three objectives: generate social, environmental, and economic value,” says Schreiner.

Of the total cargo handled by Porto Itapoá, around 50% comes from companies from other states seeking the efficiency of the Santa Catarina Terminal, mainly for the importation of electronics, among other items. The other half of the movement consists of cargoes from companies in Santa Catarina, including automobiles and auto parts, electric motors, metalworking, white goods, and the export of refrigerated cargo, serving the state’s strong agribusiness.

Babitonga Port Complex is a model of sustainable economic development

The Babitonga Port Complex, which accounts for almost 60% of Santa Catarina’s cargo movement (in tons) (ANTAQ 2019), is one of the most important port assets in the country and strategic for the state’s transportation and logistics infrastructure. Associated with the natural vocation and entrepreneurial dynamism of Santa Catarina and the entire Southern Brazil region, the Babitonga Port Complex is becoming a model of investment in infrastructure and logistics for Sustainable Economic Development.

The new wave of investments attracted by the region’s natural vocation could triple the total number of port and retroport companies operating in the region, in addition to other logistics operations. Projections of new ventures and the growth of Porto Itapoá itself demonstrate the economic importance of the Babitonga Port Complex for generating employment, income, and development for the entire country.

Market intelligence experts estimate that, in 10 years, the direct influence area of the Babitonga Complex has the potential to increase from 16 to 48 port and retroport companies with direct private investments that can reach R$ 15 billion, increase annual income generation from R$ 300 million to R$ 1.8 billion, and increase from the current 8,500 jobs to 45,000 new job opportunities.

Expansion of access channel and road infrastructure projects

To support the growth of the Babitonga Port Complex and be able to receive the largest ships in world commercial navigation, large logistics infrastructure projects are being defined. Porto Itapoá works in partnership with the Port of São Francisco do Sul, which is leading the deepening dredging project of the access.

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