MP595 could stimulate massive change in Brazils ports

Private investors are now able to build new port and terminals outside of public ports, which should increase productivity, increase the agility of cargo and boost overseas trade.

While a proposed amendment to the legislation could see equity participation in any future ports or terminals by shipping lines limited to just 5% – which would impact negatively on Maersk, MSC and Hamburg Süd – the country’s president, Dilma Rousseff is minded to veto this amendment.

The government is now preparing the first tranche of tenders covering 52 terminals in public ports, which will be offered to the private sector as of October. Of these, 26 will be in the port of Santos and a further six in public ports in the state of Pará.

The port authority overseeing the ports of Paranagua and Antonina (APPA) has identified 20 possible tenders for new port terminals, which could be operational within 24 months. Six tenders alone could generate investment of $350m in new grain and fertiliser facilities.