This week, APM Terminals Suape received approval from Brazil’s National Waterway Transport Agency to change its cargo profile, enabling the terminal to operate containerized cargo and expand the area to be used by the terminal. APM Terminals Suape will operate the new container terminal at the Governador Eraldo Gueiros Port Industrial Complex in Pernambuco, Brazil. Operations are expected to commence in 2026 and will expand port competitiveness in the Northeast of the country.

APM Terminals Suape signed the addendum to the adhesion contract for the land at Estaleiro Atlântico Sul (EAS). The technical signing meeting was held at the Suape Port Authority Auditorium in the presence of the Brazilian Minister of Ports and Airports Silvio Costa Filho, Pernambuco State Governor Raquel Lyra, Suape Industrial Port Complex Director President Marcio Guiot, APM Terminals Managing Director Leo Huisman, and Managing Director of APM Terminals Suape, Aristides Russi Junior.

EUR 300 million investment

“The new container terminal in Suape will benefit from APM Terminals’ global expertise as one of the largest terminal operators in the world,” commented Aristides Junior, Managing Director of APM Terminals Suape. “It will accelerate the region’s development, increasing port competitiveness in the Northeast of Brazil. We have a lot of work ahead and we are honored by the trust placed on this project. APM Terminals Suape will be the first 100% electrified terminal in Latin America with a R$1.6 billion (Approximate EUR 300 million) investment in this first implementation phase.”

APM Terminals Suape will have a modern infrastructure to meet customers’ needs, with pioneering initiatives in port sustainability. All equipment will be electric, with cutting-edge technology and processes, such as a complete environmental management system, waste management, wastewater treatment, and groundwater flow modeling for pollution control.

Lifting the standard of digital connectivity

It will also have its own 5G network, which will make possible to transmit information in real time to customers, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, the terminal will have remote-controlled rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTGs), which will increase the agility of the terminal’s operations, positively impacting efficiency and ensuring greater operational safety.

APM Terminals Suape will also promote the socioeconomic development of the region, which will have greater connectivity, potentially attracting new direct services from Asia and Europe.

Increased competitiveness for customers

“We expect a positive cascading effect, whereby the reduction in transportation costs and prices, will increase the competitiveness of exporters and reduce the cost of imported components (intermediate inputs) and consumer goods. The terminal will positively impact retail and other industries in the Northeast, by increasing berth windows for shipping lines, allowing more vessel and services to call Pernambuco connecting to various ports around the world,” Aristides Junior added.

The future terminal will be able to handle up to 400,000 TEUs and will increase the capacity of the port complex by 55%, generating direct and indirect job opportunities. The construction is expected to begin in 2024, with operations expected to start in the second quarter of 2026.