JBS Terminais Reviews STS-10 Bid as Brazil Finalizes Santos Container Terminal Auction Model

Overview

• JBS Terminais says it is conducting preliminary analyses and will only decide on a bid after the edital and full project documents are available.
• The Ministry of Ports sent the final auction model to ANTAQ incorporating TCU-backed limits on incumbent participation and setting a R$500 million minimum grant.
• Part of the winning grant must be reinvested in port improvements exceeding R$800 million, and the government requested a roadshow for potential investors before publication of the edital.
• Reports place the auction in March, with expectations split between the first and second half of the month.
• The STS-10 plan calls for R$6.4 billion over a 25-year lease on about 621,000 m² with four berths, as JBS flags factors like the Guarujá airport and a new highway lane and questions “megaterminal” capacity claims against government projections for higher throughput.