Terminal at the Port of Santos signs new contract but faces uncertain future

Ecoporto occupies part of the STS10 area, which will be auctioned for a mega container terminal in 2025 (Vanessa Rodrigues/AT)

The Santos Port Authority (APS) and the Ecoporto terminal, part of the Ecorodovias Group, signed a transition contract on Monday (2), ensuring the terminal's operations at the Saboó dock in Santos until June 2025. This development was disclosed in a company communication to shareholders.

According to the document, if the auction process for leasing the area is not concluded within the 180-day period stipulated, a new contract may be signed to continue operations. However, it is worth noting that Ecoporto occupies part of the STS10 area, which is set to be auctioned for a mega container terminal next year, according to the Federal Government. This scenario would leave Ecoporto without an operational site.

Extensions Ecoporto’s lease agreement was initially signed on June 12, 1998, for 25 years. It expired in June 2023 and has since been temporarily extended every six months.

The first extension covered June 12 to December 9, 2023, followed by another valid until June 5, 2024, and most recently until December. Following the expiration of this temporary arrangement, the transition contract has now been established. In practice, this measure rules out the possibility of renewing the contract for the company to continue operations at the Santos pier.

Ecoporto Santos operates in a space of 136,400 square meters (m²) within the STS10 area, which totals 601,000 m². The auction is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025, as announced last week by the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor).

When contacted by A Tribuna, Ecoporto Santos stated in a note: "The contract is aligned with the guidelines established by the competent authorities and reflects Ecoporto's commitment to continue operating with excellence and safety, efficiently serving its clients and partners."

Workers The president of the Dockworkers' Union of Santos, São Vicente, Guarujá, and Cubatão (Sindestiva), Bruno José dos Santos, expressed the position of dockworkers and all port employees, emphasizing the need to preserve a space for Ecoporto. "The terminal employs many casual and permanent workers", he noted.

He reiterated that while the category supports the creation of a mega container terminal, there are other areas at the Port of Santos that could be used for STS10 "instead of vacating an already operational location employing workers."