Santos Brasil to auction fuel terminal at Port of Itaqui in April

According to the president of Santos Brasil, Antonio Carlos Sepúlveda, the company plans to intensify cargo diversification this year and has been looking for partners to operate fuel terminals in Maranhão. The company is preparing for the auction of four liquid-bulk terminals at the Port of Itaqui (MA) which will be auctioned in early April.

“We are doing an intense study and are looking for partners to take at least one of these terminals,” said the executive. During the auction to be held at B3’s headquarters, the group that offers the highest grant value for each of the assets will win.

At the end of this year, an auction is also planned for two large liquid-bulk terminals at the Port of Santos. Regarding this bid, he says it is still early. “We are looking at it, but after [the April bidding].”

Santos Brasil operates five port terminals located in Santos (SP), Imbituba (SC), and Vila do Conde (PA). The most relevant of these is the container terminal in Santos. However, the company has been preparing to enter new segments. With this objective in mind, the group raised R$ 790 million in a subsequent share offer in September.

“We are one of the largest container groups in the country, but we have identified other businesses that are growing at a faster pace, such as cargo related to agribusiness. In addition, we live in a cycle of many contracts that are expiring and a proactive government. It is a great window of opportunity that is opening up”, he says.

The company recently won two temporary contracts at the Port of Santos, in the Saboó region: the first in May 2020 and the second, in January 2021. The objective is to move general cargo, mainly the so-called project loads – equipment, parts, and machinery in general.

The operation has just been inaugurated with the arrival of a 217-ton transformer at the first terminal, whose start of work was delayed. There are also plans to move ferrous scrap and fertilizers on site.

At the second terminal in Saboó, also temporary, the group must move project cargo, vehicles, and empty containers. The two operations are temporary and should last until the area is finally auctioned.

The government is still performing studies to decide on the final outcome of Saboó, which is on the right bank of the port. The project is open, but the market already has expectations for a large and disputed auction. One possibility is to transform the site into a new container terminal.

For Sepúlveda, it would be more interesting to allocate the area to the handling of general cargo. “The Saboó region is the last generalist in the port of Santos. In addition, the location is ideal for handling project loads, due to its access, its location, and the high demand in the state of São Paulo for the product,” the executive argues.

Another strong objective of the company is to initiate grain operations. So far, there has been no concrete opportunity to auction solid bulk, but it is a segment that is on the radar, says the president.

The company also plans to invest in its logistics operations to create a “door-to-door” service for its customers – a trend that has grown in the sector. Santos Brasil already has a fleet of 140 trucks and two distribution centers in São Bernardo do Campo, including one which opened in October.

Source: Valor Econômico

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