Public consultation remains open for area at Port of Itajaí

Intended for the handling and storage of general cargo and containers, the area is considered strategic for Porto de Itajaí and for the expansion of logistics operations in the region (Maurício Martins / AT)

The Agência Nacional de Transportes Aquaviários (Antaq) is accepting contributions until August 13 as part of the public consultation preceding the lease of the ITJ01 area at Porto de Itajaí (SC). The process represents another step toward the establishment of a long-term concession agreement for the terminal.

The area is currently operated by JBS Terminais under a temporary lease agreement executed by the Federal Government, a model adopted until the completion of the definitive bidding process.

Contributions to the public consultation, which opened on June 29, may be submitted through the electronic form available on the agency's website. Images and other digital files may also be submitted by email, provided that participants are properly identified and comply with the established deadline.

The technical and legal studies supporting the project are also available on the Antaq website. Once the consultation period closes, all submissions will be published by the agency.

The public hearing scheduled to discuss the lease has not yet had its date, time, venue, or format defined.

Intended for the handling and storage of general cargo and containers, the 295,300-square-meter area is considered strategic for the recovery and expansion of operations at the Santa Catarina port.

Since assuming temporary operations in October 2024, JBS Terminais reports having handled more than 560,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) and has been expanding the terminal's capacity to keep pace with growing demand.

In an interview with A Tribuna in April this year, JBS Terminais CEO Aristides Russi Júnior stated that the company was completing an expansion project that would increase container yard capacity by 20%.

According to him, the company has already invested approximately R\$150 million in restructuring the operation and is seeking to attract new shipping services by offering greater operational predictability and flexibility.

At the time, the executive also advocated for a decision regarding the terminal's future to be reached within 2026. According to Russi Júnior, a long-term agreement is essential to provide confidence to investors and the market.

Should the bidding process not be completed within that timeframe, he believes that a transitional solution will be necessary to ensure operational continuity and avoid uncertainty for shipping lines and customers.

Long-term agreement

The future lease of ITJ01 is expected to replace the current temporary agreement and establish a long-term contractual arrangement for the operation of the area, which is regarded as one of the principal container-handling facilities at Porto de Itajaí.

Industry stakeholders expect that the appointment of the new operator will provide greater legal certainty, encourage new investments, and consolidate the growth of port operations in the region.