Brazil’s ports are buzzing

There are many rumors in the market but what is likely to happen is the sorting out of the old dispute between public and private terminals and the issue of own versus third party cargoes in the private ones.

There have even been rumors of extinction of the OGMO´s but this is most unlikely to happen. Another step may be further centralisation of ports’ control by Brasilia.

Another issue that may be tackled as well is the renewal (or not) of some of the older terminals concessions which are due shortly. The Brazilian Association of Port Terminals (ABTP) has intimated that it will go to court if the contracts of leased terminals to private companies under Law 8.630/93 (the Ports Law), are not renewed. According to the organization\’s president Wilen Manteli, around 50 terminals in are in a situation where contracts have already matured or will mature during 2013. Of this total, 30 are members of ABTP.