In its initial phase, the terminal is expected to handle up to 400,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually, with the potential to connect Pernambuco to markets across Latin America, North America, Europe, and Asia.

“More than a new port asset, this terminal expands the Northeast’s capacity, integrates Brazil into the world’s main trade routes, and raises the region’s operational standards with a fully electrified infrastructure,” said Daniel Rose, managing director of APM Terminals Suape and Pecém.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, Pernambuco Governor Raquel Lyra, Deputy Governor Priscila Krause, Ports and Airports Minister Tomé Franca, Danish Ambassador to Brazil Eva Bisgaard Pedersen, Ipojuca Mayor Carlos Santana, and Suape Port CEO Armando Monteiro Bisneto, among other government officials and business representatives.

A study conducted by consulting firm A&M Infra and law firm Navarro Prado Advogados in partnership with APM Terminals projects that the new terminal could generate up to R$4.8 billion in additional exports, approximately R$4.9 billion in gross domestic product, and more than 43,000 potential jobs across supply chains linked to foreign trade.

Officials at the event highlighted the terminal’s importance for expanding both state and national port capacity and, in particular, strengthening Suape’s strategic role by diversifying Brazil’s logistics options beyond ports in the South and Southeast regions.

“Modernizing Suape means modernizing Brazil. The delivery of this new terminal represents a major leap forward for the infrastructure of Pernambuco, the Northeast, and Brazil’s competitiveness. It means lower costs, greater integration with global markets, more opportunities for agribusiness and industry, and stronger job creation,” Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said, describing the project as an example of successful cooperation between the public and private sectors.

Governor Raquel Lyra said the terminal reinforces Pernambuco’s position in international trade.

“With this new development, Pernambuco strengthens the Northeast’s logistics competitiveness, creating conditions to attract new businesses, generate jobs, and support the economic development of our state while connecting us even more closely to the world,” she said.

Ports and Airports Minister Tomé Franca highlighted the continued flow of foreign capital into Brazil’s port sector.

“Despite global instability, the port sector has literally become a gateway for investment into the country, demonstrating international confidence in Brazil’s role. This new APM Terminals container terminal is an example of that confidence,” he said.

Remote operations

The terminal’s key technological differentiator is the full electrification of its equipment, which accounted for nearly R$235 million of the total investment, along with the remote operation of major assets, including ship-to-shore (STS) cranes and rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes. According to the company, the setup represents a benchmark for innovation in Latin America.

The facility covers approximately 495,000 square meters and features a 430-meter quay with a depth of up to 15.5 meters, enabling it to accommodate large vessels operating on major international routes. It has a static storage capacity of around 12,000 TEUs and more than 300 power outlets for refrigerated containers.

According to the company, construction of the terminal generated more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Suape Port CEO Armando Monteiro Bisneto said the start of operations “reinforces the strategic position of our industrial port complex on both the national and international stage” and “sends a clear message to the world that Pernambuco is ready to receive major investments and lead a new cycle of sustainable growth, innovation, and competitiveness.”

Suape is APM Terminals’s second operation in Brazil’s Northeast. The company has operated at the Port of Pecém, Ceará, for more than two decades and continues to expand its presence there.

According to APM Terminals, the main obstacle to logistics development in the Northeast is not demand but the expansion of infrastructure and installed capacity, which is essential to unlock new trade flows and attract long-term investment.

Globally, APM Terminals operates terminals in more than 60 locations across 35 countries and employs more than 20,000 people. In 2025, the company recorded 27,000 vessel calls and handled 25.8 million container moves across its terminal network.

*By Naiara Bertão, Prática ESG — São Paulo

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com/