APM Terminals made the highest offer of $88m in auction by Brazil fior an internal area in the South Pier of the Atlântico Sul Shipyard (EAS), en Suape in the state of Pernambuco.
APM Terminals’ $88 million offer was $963,000 higher than ICTSI’s Tecon Suape and a local joint venture with International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI).
As the auction process took place amid a judicial recovery by EAS, the operation still needs to be validated by the Ipojuca Court, which organised the sale of areas to pay shareholders’ debts.
APMT, terminal arm of Maersk, said in a statement, the purpose was “to develop and operate a container and general cargo terminal…After completing the stages of the judicial auction and final agreements between EAS and APM Terminals, the company expects to be officially declared the auction winner.”
“The transaction closing is still subject to obtaining the suitable regulatory approvals and certain necessary licences and authorisations to install and operate the new terminal.”
“With the project, APM Terminals expects to invest up to $500 million (BRL 2.6 billion) in the new terminal, which will have an initial capacity of up to 400,000 TEU, increasing the port complex’s capacity by 55%.”
“Once all licences are granted, the company plans to finish construction in 24 months and begin operations in late 2025, when the Suape Port’s dredging of the access channel and manoeuvring basin should be completed,” informed the company.
“This is a water-shedding moment in the history of Pernambuco. The sale will allow the development of an important hub. One of the largest shipowners in the world will put Suape on another level. As a result, we will have more competition and competition,” said Roberto Gusmão, president of the port industrial complex.
Roberto Gusmão added that the fruit produced from the São Francisco Valley and other cargo could benefit from the weekly lines. “The port had these routes during the outset of Tecon Suape. Today, we don’t have them; these challenges may be eliminated with new routes and commodities.”
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