Road bottlenecks raise concern among Port of Santos exporters

Bottlenecks in accessing the Port of Santos are causing alarm in the logistics chain, particularly in the Alemoa region. With the anticipation of increased crop yields heading toward the port in the second half of the year, urgent actions are required to prevent cargo losses in the country’s largest port complex. This was one of the key warnings raised during a meeting held on Thursday (15th) at the Commercial Association of Santos (ACS), attended by authorities, businessmen, and representatives from the port sector.

Joel Contente, Director of Corporate Affairs at Brasil Terminal Portuário (BTP), emphasized that the major bottleneck lies on the Right Bank of the pier in Santos. “As far as we understand, operations within the terminal are running smoothly. However, the Port of Santos needs to enhance its capacity. We aim to complete the truck turnaround within 60 minutes when they enter.”

Recently, the company has been approached by exporters expressing concerns about the bottlenecks in the Port of Santos. Contente stressed, “The cargo might end up being diverted elsewhere. We must guarantee a fast implementation of solutions. Exporters have limited patience.”

Ângela Quintanilha, Executive Secretary of the Association of Sugar and Alcohol Exporters (Aexa), also pointed out some challenges. She stated, “In the past, sugar used to have a specific harvest period. However, it has become a year-round activity for the past few years, with bulk, bagged, and container shipments. Problems are now a daily occurrence. Santos is a ticking time bomb. The arteries are congested, and the current measures are no longer sufficient.”

Proposed Solutions

Bruno Orlandi, Secretary for Port Affairs and Employment in Santos believes that progress in the port sector involves increasing cargo volume while ensuring compatible logistics. He emphasized, “The first step is to establish a logistics infrastructure that can meet the demands. No one will bring more cargo if we lack the necessary structures.”

Orlandi suggested short and medium-term measures to improve cargo transportation in the Alemoa area. These include increasing the number of agents from the Traffic Engineering Company (CET-Santos) and enhancing police presence in the region.

“Increasing traffic control personnel and policing in the area will contribute to smoother traffic flow and deter practices that harm road flow. This will directly impact the arrival of cargo,” Orlandi explained.

Orlando Razões, Superintendent of Engineering at the Port Authority of Santos (APS), revealed that ongoing work in the Alemoa region, which was faced with licensing and clearance issues, is expected to be completed within 60 days, allowing for improved flow.

While addressing urban road issues remains a priority for the Santos Port, the dream of a new connection between upland areas and the coast is already gaining strength, despite being a long-term project. This connection is essential as recent years’ increased cargo volume has significantly affected the road system and cargo delivery to the port. Currently, only Via Anchieta is available for cargo transport, according to Bruno Orlandi, Secretary for Port Affairs and Employment in Santos.

Source: A Tribuna

To read the original news report, see: https://www.atribuna.com.br/noticias/portomar/gargalos-no-acesso-ao-porto-de-santos-preocupam-empresarios-e-acendem-sinal-amarelo

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