“In parallel, this year, new equipment has been acquired, totalling an investment of R$439m,” says Osmari de Castilho Ribas, Portonave’s chief administrative officer. This includes two ship-to-shore (STS) cranes for loading and unloading containers from vessels and 14 rubber tyred gantry (RTG) cranes for yard operations. There are also some industry firsts, including Brazil’s first all-electric reach stacker as well as two electric scanners.
De Castilho Ribas says they are part of
Portonave’s decarbonisation plan. “Portonave has a strong commitment to ESG practices,” he adds. “Investments in clean technologies are ongoing.” In 2016, the terminal achieved a major
milestone by electrifying 18 diesel RTG cranes, resulting in a 96.5% reduction in emissions. These investments reflect a long-term vision. Once the quay works are completed, the terminal will be ready to install ship-to-shore power, leading the way for this technology in Latin America. These steps are also leading to peer
recognition. This year, Portonave won the green port operation and sustainable management category for the Maritime Award of the Americas by the Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP). The new scanners recently went into operation, joining the reach stacker, while the STS and RTG cranes will arrive at the port terminal next year. “With these investments, the annual container handling capacity will increase from 1.5 million TEUs to two million TEUs,” adds De Castilho Ribas. “This will allow Portonave to maintain its competitiveness in the port sector.” Currently, the terminal is ranked as the most efficient in Brazil by the National Waterway Transportation Agency (ANTAQ). In the first quarter of this year, ports in the Santa Catarina region handled 718,000 TEUs – a 22% increase compared to the same period of 2024. This represented around 20% of all container handlings in Brazil, according to ANTAQ.
Further investment
However, De Castilho Ribas says that further investment is still needed, particularly to reduce Brazil’s overreliance on truck transport. According to the consultancy ILOS, Brazil’s national transport matrix consists of 62% road, 19% rail and 15% waterway. “There is an urgent need to diversify this matrix and enhance key access points, such as highway duplications, efforts to unlock the potential of the country’s railway system, and upgrades to waterway channels,” he says. In the Itajaí and Navegantes Port Complex,
where Portonave is located, there is a high volume of truck traffic due to the ports and the consolidated logistics chain. “Portonave has received peaks of up to 3,300 trucks in a single day. Infrastructure investments must keep pace with this demand.” The port is also calling for the waterway access channel for Navegantes and Itajaí Port Complex to be upgraded. “Currently, vessels up to 350m in length can be received. The second phase of the channel must be completed to accommodate larger vessels, and deepening and maintenance dredging are essential.
“In summary, Brazil has a robust industry but needs infrastructure investments to remain competitive internationally,” De Castilho Ribas says. The port already handles a broad range
of cargo and is known for its breakbulk capabilities alongside containers. “With a skilled team for handling special cargo, the terminal has handled aircraft, helicopters, trains, large generators, machinery, boats and even the largest roller coaster in Latin America,” he says. In June, Portonave was chosen to unload
the tenth F-39 Gripen fighter jet of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The port has handled this highly specialised cargo for the air force since 2020.
Ports perspective This growth is echoed by APM Terminals Pecém, located in the state of Ceará. It achieved record numbers in the first half of 2025, reinforcing its role as one of Brazil’s key logistics hubs. From January to June, the terminal handled 325,478 TEUs, representing a 38% increase over the same period in 2024. During the same period, overall port throughput also saw significant growth, reaching 6.67 million tonnes – a 12.4% increase compared to the first half of the previous year. Part of this was driven by Ceará’s industrial sector, which leads national growth with a 9.2% increase in Q1 2025, according to Brazil’s Monthly Industrial Survey (PIM/IBGE). “This milestone not only highlights the
potential of APM Terminals Pecém but also reflects our continued investment strategy focused on infrastructure, capacity expansion, and technology adoption,” says Daniel Rose, CEO of APM Terminals Suape and Pecém. “These pillars are essential to meet rising demand and to strengthen the logistics landscape in the northeast region, connecting Brazil to the world via the new direct maritime route to Asia.” APM Terminals Pecém has had its operating license renewed until 2049. As part of its
growth strategy, the company also announced an investment plan of R$200m over the coming years, focused on modernisation, capacity expansion, and emissions reduction. Terminal expansion should complete by 2029, including the construction of a new 350m berth, increasing the container quay from 600m to 800m. With this expansion, the terminal aims to increase its annual handling capacity from 650,000 to 850,000 TEUs.
Market drivers Brazil’s closer trade relations with China are not only fuelling expansion but leading to Latin American port operators investing in Chinese- manufactured lifting equipment. ZPMC states that it has an approximate
share of the region’s STS market exceeding 70%, while for yard equipment like RTGs, ASCs and RMGs, it sits at around 50%. “This is driven by key projects across
the region, including the BTP automation project in Brazil’s Port of Santos, the delivery of electric reach stackers and STS cranes to terminals in Peru Chancay, Colombia, Jamaica and Panama, as well as the supply of empty container handlers,” says Newton. “These projects highlight the strong demand for ZPMC’s electrified and automated equipment.” Overall, ZPMC believes that the region’s
terminals are looking to go bigger and better. “Terminals are gearing up for more neo-super- post-Panamax calls and denser exchanges,” she adds. “This requires higher, longer-reach STS cranes and faster yard systems.” Examples include upgrades to Brazil’s Port of Santos so it can accommodate larger container ships and boost annual throughput. “To meet these needs, manufacturers like ZPMC are equipping terminals with new cranes, extended booms and custom-built solutions – including large-scale equipment and retrofits – to handle massive new vessels and their intense exchange operations.” As with Pecém, long-term concession
agreements are unlocking capital expenditure for critical infrastructure upgrades. These include berth extensions, dredging for deeper drafts and acquiring new crane fleets. “ZPMC delivers turnkey solutions for these
berth extensions, draft deepening projects, and new crane fleet deployments,” Newton says. Of course, in a highly competitive
landscape, terminals are also looking for better operational efficiency, which is leading to investment in automation. “Regional operators are seeking to improve vessel turnaround times, terminal reliability and overall productivity through advanced automated solutions, which often also bring environmental benefits,” she says.
www.hoistmagazine.com | October 2025 | xv
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79
