APM Terminals has delivered APM Terminals Suape – its new container terminal at the Port of Suape in Pernambuco – Northeast Brazil, as the terminal goes into final stages to begin operations and establish a new gateway for trade in the region. The milestone marks a significant expansion of the country’s logistics capacity, with the project set to improve connectivity and better position the region within global trade flows.
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Scaling capacity, raising standards
The terminal will be the first fully electrified facility in Latin America and represents an investment of more than USD 350 million by APM Terminals. Designed to increase the container handling capacity of the Suape Port Complex by 55%, APM Terminals Suape will initially handle up to 400,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) per year. The terminal is expected to enhance the Northeast’s logistics competitiveness through modern technology, while strengthening connectivity between Pernambuco and key markets across Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia.
According to a study by A&M Infra, Navarro Prado Advogados and APM Terminals, the new terminal in Suape has significant potential to drive economic growth, including up to R$4.8 billion in additional exports, approximately R$4.9 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the creation of more than 43,000 jobs across foreign trade-related value chains.
The delivery of APM Terminals Suape comes at a time of increasing pressure to expand Brazil’s port capacity. In this context, strengthening the Suape Port Complex supports the diversification of the country’s logistics network beyond the South and Southeast, positioning the Brazilian Northeast as a more prominent node in global trade routes.
National and regional momentum
“Modernising Suape means modernising Brazil. The delivery of this new terminal is a leap forward for the infrastructure of Pernambuco in the Northeast, and for Brazil’s competitiveness. It means reduced costs, greater integration with the world, more opportunities for agribusiness and industry, and increased job creation. An excellent partnership between the public sector and private initiative in support of the country’s development,” said Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin.
“Since President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva return to office, Brazil has resumed its dialogue with the world. Despite global instability, the port sector has become a key gateway for investments into the country, demonstrating international confidence in Brazil’s role. APM Terminals’ new container terminal is an example of this confidence, positioning our state as a strategic point in the country’s relationship with international markets,” said Tomé Franca, Brazilian Minister of Ports and Airports.
“Pernambuco’s strategic role in international trade is reinforced at this moment with the opening of the new container terminal in Suape. This is an achievement built through the partnership we have established between the public and private sectors, which further consolidates confidence in Pernambuco’s future. With more investments, more competitiveness, and more opportunities, we are expanding our state’s logistics capacity while combining modernity and sustainability. With this new milestone, Pernambuco strengthens the logistics competitiveness of the Northeast, creating conditions to attract new businesses, generate jobs, and support the economic development of our state, connecting us even more with the world,” stated Raquel Lyra, Governor of Pernambuco.
“The day of 12 June will be remembered in the history of the Suape Port Complex as the beginning of a new era for logistics and economic development in the state. The start of operations of APM Terminals Suape, part of the A.P. Moller–Maersk, a global leader in maritime transport and integrated logistics, reinforces the strategic position of our industrial port complex on both the national and international stage. This investment expands our operational capacity, strengthens Pernambuco’s connection to the world’s leading markets, and sends a clear message to the world: Pernambuco is ready to welcome major investments and lead a new cycle of sustainable growth, innovation, and competitiveness. This achievement is aligned with our government’s commitment to strengthening the business environment, attracting investment, and establishing Pernambuco as a benchmark for development and opportunity creation”, said Armando Monteiro Bisneto, Chief Executive Officer of the Suape Port Complex.
“APM Terminals Suape reflects our long-term commitment to Brazil’s growth and to strengthening the country’s logistics infrastructure. More than a new port asset, the terminal expands capacity in the Northeast, connects Brazil to major global trade routes and raises operational standards in the region through a fully electrified facility. Developed in close collaboration with Brazilian authorities and partners, the project has already generated thousands of jobs and is positioned as a platform to support regional competitiveness, an intermodal gateway for the Northeast and a new benchmark for modern port operations in Latin America,” said Daniel Rose, Managing Director of APM Terminals Suape and Pecém.
Building on a regional footprint
In addition to Suape, APM Terminals maintains a strong presence in Northeast Brazil through its long-standing operations at the Port of Pecém in Ceará, where it has operated for more than two decades and continues to invest. The company remains confident in the region’s long-term potential, supported by its strategic location, export-driven economy, and growing integration into global trade flows. Realising this potential will depend not on demand, but on the continued expansion of infrastructure and capacity, critical enablers to unlock new trade flows and attract sustained investment.