Maersk plans R$ 30 billion in investments focused on Brazil and eyes expansion in Santos

Maersk executives welcomed Brazilian authorities and business leaders in Copenhagen for a meeting on projects and investments (Maurício Martins/AT)

One of the world’s largest container shipping companies, operating over 700 vessels in 135 countries, Maersk is planning to invest R\$ 30 billion in Latin America — mainly in Brazil — over the next ten years. The company also operates terminals through APM Terminals and aims to allocate most of these resources to the Port of Santos, seeking to increase container capacity at the Santos dock. However, its executives believe that to do this, it is necessary to unlock investments by expanding leasing areas in the Santos port complex.

A Tribuna accompanied a meeting on Thursday (8) with Brazilian authorities and business representatives at Maersk headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. Company executives confirmed their intention to participate in the bidding process for the megaterminal Tecon Santos 10, which is expected to be auctioned later this year at the Saboó dock. The auction model and whether there will be participation restrictions remain unknown, which the shipping company criticizes. Maersk has stakes in three terminals in Brazil (BTP in Santos; Pecém in Ceará; and Itapoá in Santa Catarina) and is building one (Suape in Pernambuco).

“When we build Tecon Santos 10, we’ll have a modern terminal, with technology, functioning as a hub port. This generates a competitive advantage, which forces all other terminals to follow suit. That’s how we make money — by generating logistical efficiency for our clients, who are part of Brazil’s productive sector”, explains Felipe Campos, Maersk’s Director of Government Relations. He believes delays in investment could leave the Port of Santos behind other complexes.

Speaking to A Tribuna, Concepción Boo Arias, Maersk’s Director of Global Partnerships and Capacity Building, Public and Regulatory Affairs, emphasized that APM Terminals operates six of the ten most productive port terminals in the world, according to the World Bank. “We would like to make Tecon Santos 10 the seventh, placing it among the most efficient in the world. It would be strategic for us, but above all for Brazilian exporters. It’s an incredible opportunity.”

Partnership signing The visit to Maersk is part of an international mission promoted by the parliamentary fronts for the Santos-Guarujá Dry Connection and Ports and Airports in the Chamber of Deputies, chaired by Federal Deputy Paulo Alexandre Barbosa (PSDB), with support from the Instituto Brasileiro de Infraestrutura (IBI). On this occasion, Maersk formalized its membership in IBI as an associate.

“Infrastructure is at the heart of what we do in Brazil and around the world. We believe Brazil has tremendous potential to play a leading role in the region. Developing port infrastructure and national logistics is very important, and we are fully willing to be partners”, said Concepción after the signing.

Mário Povia, CEO of IBI, explained that Maersk works with vertical integration and logistical solutions, in addition to coastal shipping (with Aliança). “All of this aligns perfectly with the Institute’s purpose. Having Maersk as an associate, in a spirit of shared engagement, is fantastic. It’s a major asset we now have.”

For Paulo Alexandre Barbosa, Maersk joining IBI supports the goal of attracting more investments to Brazil. “Right now, we are discussing Tecon Santos 10 and other matters at the Port of Santos where participation from major companies is very important. The greater the participation in the auction, the better the outcome. Broad and unrestricted participation is key.”

On Thursday, the delegation also visited the museum that tells the story of Maersk, at the company's headquarters, and later went to the Danish Parliament for a meeting (Maurício Martins/AT)

The delegation also visited, on Thursday, the museum at Maersk’s headquarters that recounts the company’s history, and then went to the Danish Parliament, where a meeting was held with Rasmus Horn, Chair of the Parliament’s Transport Committee.

The discussion with Horn focused on the main objective of the mission, which began on Monday and ended yesterday: to study the technologies and solutions applied in the Fehmarnbelt immersed tunnel project, currently under construction between Germany and Denmark and spanning 18 kilometers.

The idea is to bring insights to the Santos-Guarujá tunnel project, considered the most iconic work in the New PAC. With 1.5 km in length (870 meters submerged) and a budget of R\$ 6 billion, the future link between Santos and Guarujá is expected to benefit both freight and passenger transport, as well as pedestrian and cyclist mobility.

The auction is scheduled for August 1st.