International debate over the auction of Santos Container Terminal 10 (Tecon Santos 10), scheduled for the Saboó quay at Santos Port, has gained new chapters following a position statement from the United States government.
During a visit to Santos last week, U.S. Consul General in São Paulo Kevin Murakami stated that auction rules should allow participation by European shipping companies that are currently barred from bidding for the terminal.
The model approved by the Court of Accounts of the Union (TCU) establishes restrictions that prevent participation by companies already holding terminals at Santos Port and also by shipowners—that is, companies that own vessels. In the diplomat's view, this format may limit the competitiveness of the process.
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Murakami stated he expects the auction to be conducted fairly and criticized the restrictions which, in his view, may harm companies considered transparent. The consul confirmed he was referring specifically to European shipowners Maersk, from Denmark, and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, from Switzerland. Both hold stakes in the terminal operated by Brasil Terminal Portuário (BTP), which prevents them from bidding for the new asset under current rules.
Despite the American position, Murakami emphasized that there are no U.S. companies directly interested in the terminal project.
During the interview, the diplomat also expressed concern over a possible competitive advantage for Chinese companies in the bidding. He cited the case of COSCO Shipping, a shipowner controlled by the Chinese government that has already shown interest in the terminal.
According to Murakami, participation by Chinese state-owned companies could raise strategic concerns. "Our concern is an auction that gives advantage to Chinese state-owned companies, which could put at risk Brazil's sovereignty over its largest gateway, the largest port in Latin America," he stated.
However, under current rules defined by the TCU, COSCO itself is also barred from participating in the auction.
This situation has created an impasse within the federal government, which has repeatedly postponed the auction, with no date yet set. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is seeking a solution that avoids diplomatic friction with China, Brazil's main trading partner.
One alternative under discussion would be to partially ease the TCU's recommendations, allowing shipowners to participate in the auction while maintaining the restriction for companies already operating terminals at Santos Port. Under that scenario, COSCO could bid for the asset, while Maersk and MSC would remain barred.
Tecon Santos 10 is considered one of the most strategic projects for expanding Brazilian port infrastructure. The terminal will have an area of approximately 621.9 thousand square meters and capacity to handle up to 3.25 million TEUs per year, a unit equivalent to 20-foot containers.
With a lease contract set for 25 years and estimated investments of R$ 6.45 billion, the project could increase Santos Port's container handling capacity by roughly 50%, further consolidating the complex as Latin America's main logistics hub.
Editor's note: This article was prepared based on information disclosed during an institutional engagement by the U.S. Consul General in São Paulo held at the offices of Grupo A Tribuna in Santos.
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