Port of Santos expansion proceeds at cost of US$2.9bn

More than 70% of the investment will be obtained from the private sector and the rest will be provided by the state government, which is in charge of improving maritime and ground access to the port. The plan is based on a study carried out by the World Bank and should be ready at the end of this year. The study projects growth at the port of 158% between 2009 and 2024 and an increase in cargo movements from 89m to 230m tons.

Volumes of general cargo, such as containers and vehicles, are expected to grow by 238% by 2024. In the next five years, volumes are projected to increase by 58%, according to the study. In order to satisfy demand, the port will need 16 new specialised berths by 2024, of which nine must be built by 2014, according to the World Bank.

Currently three expansion projects are being carried out by terminal operators Embraport, Brasil Terminais Portuários (BTP) and Tecondi, with a combined value in excess of US$1.4bn. The most advanced of these is the Tecondi terminal on the port’s right bank. Among other improvements, the company is building a new 320 m berth that will have a water depth of 14.5 m, while old cranes are being replaced by new container-handling equipment. The terminal’s US$100m expansion programme will increase its capacity from 318,000 teu to around 700,000 teu within a year.