Portonave maintains its leadership as the most productive port terminal in Brazil

For the second consecutive year, Portonave, Brazil’s first private port terminal, is the leader in productivity in the national port sector. In the last year, 1,108,029 TEUs were handled, achieving a vessel productivity rate of 114 Movements per Hour (MPH) — the highest among all Brazilian ports, according to the National Waterway Transportation Agency (ANTAQ).

In exports, the most handled commodities were frozen meat, timber and wood products, and paper. On the import side, machinery, textiles, and plastics recorded the highest volumes. China was the main export market, followed by Japan in second place and the Philippines in third. In imports, China also ranked first, followed by Vietnam and Italy, respectively.

Over 18 years of operation, Portonave has received 10,000 vessel calls and handled 14,785,828 TEUs. To maintain its competitiveness, the terminal is currently implementing an investment program totaling approximately US$ 374 million, focused on the Quay Infrastructure Works and the acquisition of new equipment.

With a more robust quay, featuring a 17-meter depth, the terminal will be able to berth vessels of up to 400 meters in length (L.O.A.), and modern Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes with higher handling capacity will be installed, with completion expected in the second half of this year. As a result, the port terminal’s capacity will increase from 1.5 million TEUs to 2 million TEUs.

Productivity is one of the key indicators used to measure the efficiency of a port terminal. It refers to the number of Movements per Hour (MPH) performed during container loading and discharging operations, calculated from the first container handled to the last during a vessel call.

At the company’s quay, operations are carried out by up to six Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes, designed specifically for port operations.

The Quay Infrastructure Works do not involve expanding the existing infrastructure, but rather modernizing it. Initiated in January 2024, the first phase of the project was completed in October 2025, and activities have progressed to the second phase, scheduled for completion in the second half of 2026.

In addition to operational gains, the works represent an opportunity to further decarbonize operations. Upon completion, it will be possible to install shore power, a system that supplies electrical power to berthed vessels. Currently, approximately 1,100 professionals are dedicated to activities on the quay and at construction sites.

Located in Navegantes, on the northern coast of Santa Catarina, Portonave began operations in 2007 as Brazil’s first private port terminal. In the national ranking for 2025, Portonave placed fourth in long-haul full container throughput in Brazil, with 9% market share, according to Datamar.

The company currently generates 1,300 direct jobs and 5,500 indirect jobs. In addition to its recognized operational excellence, Portonave is committed to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices and continuously invests in projects aimed at community development.

In 2025, the company was awarded the Diamond Sustainability Seal by the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) and was recognized as the 8th best large company to work for in Santa Catarina, according to Great Place to Work (GPTW).