A new port as an alternative
Unloading cargo in Brazil’s maritime gateways, and then transporting it to the hinterlands, are two oft-cited weaknesses in the supply chain to and from the South American giant. The Multicargas terminal in the port of Açu wants to improve this state of affairs.
Even giants have to start out small before they can grow – a state of affairs that also applies to the Multicargas terminal in the Brazilian port of Açu, in the north of the state of Rio de Janeiro, which wants to set itself apart from the competition and provide new options for cabotage in Brazil.
Tadeu Fraga, the CEO of Açu Port Operations, which runs the maritime trade complex, is bursting with self-confidence. “The Multicargas terminal has the potential to become a key gateway in both southeastern and mid-western Brazil, relieving pressure on ports already operating at their maximum capacity.”
The compound covers approximately 160,000 sqm, with the facility, which has been operational since 2016, offering berths with 14.5 m of water depth. This means Pana- max vessels with a draught of up to 13.1 m can call there. By the end of 2018 the terminal recorded volume growth of 96%, bringing throughput to 1.4 million t.
Expanding into container handling
The terminal is licensed to operate vehicles and is developing further capacities to transport containers. So far it has mainly handled bauxite, coke, coal, gypsum, scrap, as well as breakbulk and project cargo. It can also serve shippers of manganese, salt, iron ore as well as pig iron.
The port of Açu’s access to the main Brazilian motorway network also offers its clients good connections for their imports and exports to and from the central landlocked states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul. In 2018, 42% of all goods handled by the terminal were transported directly to their final destination.
The fact that the terminal has operated without an accident for 800 days is also a valuable asset.