President of the Port of Recife Aims to Double Revenue by End of 2026

By the end of 2026, the Port of Recife is expected to undergo modernization and dredging works to expand its capacity and revenue. During a visit to Diario de Pernambuco on Monday (April 28), the new port president, Paulo Nery, confirmed that doubling the port’s revenue is one of the main goals of his current administration. In 2024, the Port of Recife generated R$42 million in revenue and handled 1.7 million tons of cargo.

According to Nery, one of the key modernization projects is a new dredging operation under the Ministry of Ports and Airports, which is expected to require R$ 103 million in investment. The contracting process for the work is anticipated to begin later this year.

“In addition to the port’s internal channel, we also have the external channel and river outlets nearby. That’s why this dredging is essential to maintain and improve our competitiveness regarding the draft,” said the president.

The draft at the Port of Recife varies depending on the berth, with six different berths ranging from 8 to 10 meters deep. Capacity also varies by cargo type. For instance, container transport — which requires larger ships — is handled exclusively at the Port of Suape, where the draft reaches around 13 meters.

Nery emphasized that the goal is not to compete with the Port of Suape. Instead, Recife’s port competes with those in Paraíba and Alagoas. The strategy is to diversify and increase cargo volume to boost revenue.

Beyond dredging, the Port of Recife is also seeking federal public funds for an updated drainage and paving project. In partnership with the Sugar and Alcohol Industry Union of Pernambuco (Sindaçúcar), the port will also improve logistics for sugar exports, one of the key commodities handled there.

Maritime Terminal Concession

Nery also addressed the upcoming public concession of the maritime terminal, which is currently in the pricing study phase and is expected to be launched in the market by the end of the first half of 2025. A major company with over 90 years of operation in Brazil has expressed interest, which could increase ship traffic to the port. “In addition to the state government, the Port, and the Tourism Secretariat prospecting new ships, we’ll have an operator working directly with shipping companies to attract more vessels to Pernambuco,” he noted.

He added that the modernization strategies align with broader efforts by the state government to improve logistics across Pernambuco. “Under the leadership of Governor Raquel Lyra, we are committed to supporting this ongoing development. Through the PE na Estrada program, over R$ 5 billion has been invested in road infrastructure,” said Nery.

Auctions

Regarding the auctions the Port of Recife won in August 2024, Nery noted that three terminals are currently undergoing infrastructure investments.

One of the winning companies is LiquiPort, which already operates at the port and handles malt and barley. With new investments in the terminal and storage facilities, its cargo volume is expected to double, positioning the port as the central hub for supplying the state’s beer industry.

Another winner, the Petribu Group, exports sugar and is set to expand its shipping volume. The company has built an additional storage area to prevent export delays.

Finally, a third industry that won the auction will handle fertilizer cargo — an imported product critical to agriculture and sugarcane production in the state. “This material has been affected by the war in Ukraine, a key exporter of fertilizer raw materials,” Nery concluded.

Source: Diário de Pernambuco 

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