With this in mind, the port authority president is to visit Banco do Brasil and BNDES to negotiate loans. The port wants to build four additional berths, of which two will handle grain and two others dry bulk. A decision on how these will be financed is due in April.
Companies are already clamouring for access to the two grain terminals following the decision by Bunge to build a flour mill locally and abandon current facilities in Recife. In addition, US$236m is being invested in four new factories by M. Dias Branco, whose output will be used for export.
Other dry bulk commodities to be handled include clinker and iron ore which are already exported through the port by Mhag, although volumes could be expanded considerably if the investment by a Russian company does go ahead.
