Posted on October 2, 2024
Brazil is planning to offer a 35-year leasing contract for the SSB01 terminal at São Sebastião port, São Paulo state, with the expectation to generate 660 million reais (US$120mn) in investments.
The public consultation launched by ports regulator Antaq remains open through November 28, according to a press release. Antaq will consider the input it receives in the drafting of the notice of the contract, after which it will announce an auction date.
In recent years, Brazil has offered a series of port terminal leasing contracts, attracting private investment to a sector that is seeing robust activity due to successive trade surplus records.
This development is spurring M&As, too.
This month France’s CMA CGM group announced the acquisition of a 48% stake in Santos Brasil, a leading Brazilian terminal operator with eight assets in container, liquid, and vehicle handling and logistics services across the country, including its flagship asset, the Tecon Santos container terminal in São Paulo state.
The entrance of international investors into Brazil’s logistics sector is part of efforts by the President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva administration to increase infrastructure investment.
“Lula is inserting Brazil into the investment portfolio of global companies,” transport minister Renan Filho told BNamericas.
“When Lula makes official visits, as a courtesy to global leaders or even receives global leaders here in Brazil, as happened recently with [French President] Emmanuel Macron, this helps pave the way for international investments in Brazil,” Filho added.
Last week, French group Vinci won the auction for a concession contract involving investment of 13bn reais in Brazil’s Rota dos Cristais highway.
