Brazil sets auction date for US$630mn port terminal leasing contracts

The Brazilian government set the auction date to offer leasing contracts for three port terminals, which are expected to generate investments of 3.62bn reais (US$630mn).

The contracts will be offered separately on December 18 at the São Paulo stock exchange, said waterways regulator Antaq in a statement.

The terminals are the ITG02 in the port of Itaguaí, in Rio de Janeiro state; the MCP03 in Santana port, Amapá state; and MAC16 in the Alagoas’ port of Maceió. 

The biggest contract is for the iron ore-focused ITG02.

Over the duration of the 35-year contract, around 3.53bn reais will be invested in the new terminal, which will be built on an area of 350,000m² with a handling capacity of around 20Mt/y.

According to people involved in the process consulted by BNamericas, the auction is likely to generate strong investor interest as the area prepared for ITGO2 is connected by railroad to an iron-rich area in Minas Gerais state. 

The project involves the construction of a pier for the terminal, which will be close to existing terminals serving major mining and metals firms such as Vale and CSN.

The contract will be offered to investors along with a series of other port terminals.

Meanwhile, for the MCP03 terminal in Alagoas state, the government projects investments of 89mn reais over the 25-year contract. The area is intended for the handling and storage of solid vegetable bulk, especially soybeans and corn. 

The solid bulk-focused MAC16 is expected to generate investments worth 6.2mn reais during the five-year contract.