Grain Terminal Planned for Major Port

DP World, a global port operator, has partnered with Brazilian railway operator Rumo to build a new terminal at the Port of Santos to handle 12.5 million tonnes a year of grains and fertilizers, positioning the port as Brazil’s primary trade gateway and a key hub for South America.

Rumo estimates the total investment for the construction of this state-of-the-art facility at USD 500 million, which will be financed through a combination of Rumo's resources, loans, and potential strategic partnerships. This is in addition to recent investments in DP World container handling facilities increasing capacity from 1.2 million TEUs to 1.4 million TEUs, while expanding the size of the quay from 1,100 meters to 1,300 meters.

Once complete, the new terminal will handle 9 million tonnes of grains and 3.5 million tonnes of fertilizers per year. With construction expected to take 30 months, all other services including container handling at Santos will continue, with no impact to container handling operations.

Under the 30-year agreement, DP World will provide the terminal area located on the left bank of Brazil’s Port of Santos to Rumo and assume responsibility for operations and port services. The port is one of the largest and most modern private multi-purpose port terminals in the country.

The terminal marks DP World’s fourth round of investment since operations began in Brazil in 2013. It comes at a crucial time with the port achieving record cargo movements in January, handling 11.9 million tonnes of cargo. Bulk solids, such as sugar and soy, accounted for 5 million tonnes, up 13.9% compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Port of Santos.

"We are thrilled to partner with Rumo on this transformative project, which underscores our commitment to driving growth and innovation in Brazil's logistics sector," said Fabio Siccherino, CEO of DP World Santos. "This new terminal will not only bolster trade capabilities but also create long-term value for our customers and stakeholders."

The new terminal will hold 21 new pieces of equipment, featuring advanced technology to reduce consumption and emissions of polluting gases. The terminal currently sits at 845,000 square meters, with an additional 130,000 square meters available for expansion.