Chilean company Arauco announced an investment of R$ 2 billion in the construction of a port terminal on the right bank of Santos Port, in the Alemoa neighborhood. The project is part of a broad logistics plan worth R$ 4.4 billion aimed at handling cellulose production from the company's future mill in Inocência, in Mato Grosso do Sul.
The port facility will be responsible for loading approximately 3.5 million tons of cellulose per year, destined mainly for the Asian market. The industrial unit, considered the world's largest cellulose plant, is scheduled to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2027.
The terminal will be built on an area of approximately 200,000 square meters and will include complete infrastructure, including dredging, berthing facilities, piers, storage areas, and road and rail access. Initially, two berths will be constructed, with provision for future expansion.
The initiative results from the acquisition of the concession of the Private-Use Terminal (TUP) Alemoa S/A. The project has already received technical approval from the National Agency for Waterway Transport (Antaq) and is awaiting final approval from the Ministry of Ports and Airports.
In addition to the terminal, the logistics plan includes the construction of a 50 km rail branch line, acquisition of locomotives and freight cars, and operational contracts with Rumo Logística, responsible for transporting cargo to the São Paulo coast. Transport will be carried out by trains of up to 100 cars, significantly reducing truck use and carbon emissions.
The rail operation, according to the company, could remove up to 200 trucks per day from highways, bringing gains in safety and sustainability. To make the project viable, Arauco is exploring financing lines with BNDES and the Merchant Marine Fund.
With an integrated schedule, the company expects all structures—mill, railway, and port terminal—to enter operation simultaneously, ensuring logistics efficiency and international competitiveness.
