Santos brasil sweeps up new liner business
Brazil’s leading box terminal operator, Santos Brasil (SB), has been boxing clever this year in tying carriers to long-term contracts as it mops up the mess caused by reduced berth capacity at two key terminals.
A badly damaged berth at BTP, in Santos, and quay refurbishment at the Portonave terminal in Navegantes, Santa Catarina, has left shipping lines needing to find quick-fix alternatives. SB’s Tecon Santos facility has secured a Far East and a Mediterranean service and its Tecon Imbituba terminal, in the south, has picked up the New Brazex service to the US Gulf (operated by CMA CGM and Cosco).
Other terminal operators that have benefitted from the “overflow” caused by the two dislocations are Ecoporto and DP World in Santos, and two Wilson, Sons terminals in Salvador and Rio Grande.
Usually, carriers will divert for a few months and pay a premium price for that but the commercial department at Santos Brasil insists that they sign one to two year contracts, to guarantee windows.
“The unfortunate accident at BTP means that the Ipanema service [ECSA to Asia, by MSC] and one Mediterranean service have switched to us, and they are a boost to our volumes for sure,” says a veteran director for Santos Brasil. “It makes no sense for us to have 2-3 month contracts.”
Forecasts as to when BTP’s pier will be ready again vary from July to late September.
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