Port of Itaqui is the largest cargo port in Brazil, near the city of São Luís, Maranhão. It is not to be confused with the city of Itaqui, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, near the border with Argentina. The port’s main cargo turn-over includes aluminum ingots and bars, pig iron, general, dry and liquid bulk cargoes, soybean and copper. The hinterland of the Port of Itaqui encompasses the states of Maranhão, Piauí, Tocantins, southwestern Pará, northern Goiás, northeastern Mato Grosso, and western Bahia.
In 1939 studies developed by the DNPRC (Nacional Dep-artment Of Ports, Rivers and Channels) of the Transport and Public Construction Ministry identified the Itaqui region as a favored place for a new port in Maranhão due to its sheltered location and excellent water depth near the coast. However, it took 27 years until the port construction commenced in 1966. Later in 1974 the new port facilities began it`s operation.
Initially managed by Codomar (Maranhão Dock Company) the responsibility for the Port of Itaqui was transferred to the state government of Maranhão in 2000. As a privately held public company, EMAP (Maranhense Port Handling Company) was established to manage, expand and further develop the Port of Itaqui, the São José de Ribamar wharf, the ferry-boat terminals of Ponta da Espera and Cujupe.
Currently the port is building two new berths featuring multi-purpose terminals scheduled for completion be-tween 2016 and 2017. According to the Chairman of EMAP, Luiz Carlos Fossati, this is part of the 20 year plan EMAP has prepared.
‘The period of completion of two new berths is in line with our strategic plan to expand the Port of Itaqui meaning a boost to the development of Maranhão,‘ said Fossati.
The Port of Itaqui is connected to two important cargo railroads, and the state of Maranhão is investing in many ventures aiming to increase production for exports and to improve the port‘s overall export competitiveness.
Maranhão‘s economy is growing and its emergent ‘high impact businesses’ are dependent on this development as the State of Maranhão plans to realize for instance an ethanol cluster with full logistics and energy infrastructure. Another US$ 1 billion project is the Meio-Norte Gas Pipeline. This planned gas pipeline will link the states of Ceará, Piauí and Maranhão.
Moreover, there is a strategic project in building a giant steel mill, Companhia Siderúrgica do Maranhão, that will also help to boost the region’s exports. The 10 million ton steel plate manufacturing plant entails an estimated investment of US $ 5 billion and is supposed to generate 4,000 direct jobs and an additional 600 jobs at the port authority.
Building the refinery of Integração with an estimated budget of US$2 billion is another high impact venture.
This new oil refinery should feature a production capacity of 200,000 barrels/day, and capitalizing on Maranhão logistics network, the project provides a central refinery position in the Northeast region of Brazil.
We can easily see that there are vast business oppor-tunities that entail financing and investments, EPC services, new technologies, peripheral infrastructure, engineering & design services, construction services, procurement of equipment, and much more. Investors willing to support these ventures can enjoy support through fiscal benefits granted by the State Government.
Itaqui port currently features six berths but it is projected it will need at least 18 due to the above mentioned industrial expansion endeavors. The port area is expected to double from currently three million square meters to six million. As an example the above refinery will be the biggest in the country and exclusive berths will be needed for loading and discharging related sub-products. Also, the steel mill project is expected to require four more dedicated berths alone.
BBC Chartering has supported the development of South American economies since the beginning of operations in 1997. Washington de Barros from BBC Chartering do Brasil says: “The port of Itaqui represents a strategic connection for chartering clients - e.g. like Alstom - seizing opportunities resulting from the many important infrastructure projects currently underway.
For that we are prepared delivering leading edge shipping solutions. We are excited and look forward to continue being part of Brazil’s future growth story in the Northeast.”