On the southern coast of Pernambuco, the Port of Suape is on the verge of receiving an innovative container terminal that promises to double, at minimum, the capacity of the port complex. According to the state government, this expansion is expected to create more than 1,700 new jobs.
On Monday, the 16th, the authorization for the construction of this new infrastructure was officially signed. The construction is scheduled to commence in 2024 and is projected to be completed by 2026. The initial investment to implement this terminal is estimated at R$ 1.6 billion.
The newly established terminal will be set up and managed by APM Terminals, a company that is part of the Danish conglomerate A.P. Moller-Maersk.
The authorization for the new terminal was signed by the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, Governor Raquel Lyra (PSDB), and APM Terminals President, Aristides Júnior.
During construction, the creation of 500 new direct jobs and 2,000 indirect jobs is anticipated. After completion, when the container terminal is operating at its maximum capacity, 1,700 jobs will be offered, including 350 direct positions and 1,400 indirect ones.
Initially, the terminal will have the capacity to handle 400,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) per year, with the potential to increase to over 1.3 million TEUs annually when fully operational.
This project will be pioneering in Latin America for being entirely electrified, adopting advanced environmental management practices, waste treatment, wastewater treatment, and implementing a pollution control system for groundwater.
According to Raquel Lyra, the increase in the cargo capacity of the Port of Suape will open up new distribution routes for goods in Pernambuco, both within Brazil and internationally.
“By initially doubling the container capacity, we are adding value and gaining a significant competitive advantage. This terminal is designed to operate even more efficiently than the current one. This will not only reduce our operational costs but also enable the expansion of our operations,” stated the governor.
She also emphasized that sectors such as automobile exports will directly benefit from this expansion. Furthermore, fruits produced in the Sertão, which are currently exported through the Port of Pecém in São Gonçalo do Amarante (CE), will be exported via Suape, leveraging the port’s new capabilities.
