Suape Port in Pernambuco will now be included in the rotation of the Gulf to SAEC I maritime service, operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The inclusion adds a call in Northeast Brazil to the connection between the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and ports on the east coast of South America, expanding maritime container transport alternatives for importers and exporters in the region.
According to an official statement from the shipowner, published on October 12, the first vessel scheduled to make the new call is the container ship MSC Yamuna VI, with arrival scheduled for October 26, 2026. The stop will be inserted in the leg between Cartagena, Colombia, and Santos, on the São Paulo coast.
Service connects ports in Mexico, United States, and Brazil
With the change, the Gulf to SAEC I rotation now includes the ports of Veracruz and Altamira in Mexico, Houston in the United States, Cartagena, Suape, Santos, Itapoá, Paranaguá, Itajaí, and Rio de Janeiro, before returning to Cartagena and Veracruz.
The new call strengthens MSC's presence in the Northeast market and creates one more maritime connection alternative for cargo handled by the Pernambuco complex. The commercial effect will depend on space availability on the vessels, shipper demand, and transport conditions offered by the company.
For importers and exporters, the expansion of service options may contribute to the planning of shipments and unloading, as well as favor the organization of regional logistics chains. Any gains in costs and lead times, however, will depend on the characteristics of each operation and comparison with currently used routes.
Expansion of container infrastructure
The arrival of the service occurs during a period of expansion of Suape's infrastructure for containerized cargo handling. In June 2026, APM Terminals opened a new terminal in the port complex, a project that received investments exceeding R$ 2 billion and increased the port's container handling capacity by 55%, according to information published by Transporte Moderno.
Between January and August 2026, Suape handled 442,321 TEUs, a unit equivalent to a 20-foot container. In the same period, total cargo handling reached 18.8 million tons, a growth of 22.8% compared to the first eight months of 2025.
The combination of expanded infrastructure and new deep-sea calls may strengthen Suape's position in competing for cargo and maritime services destined for the Northeast. The consolidation of this movement will depend on the continuity of connections, capacity supply, and demand generated by companies in the region.
The inclusion of Suape in the Gulf to SAEC I thus represents an advance in maritime connectivity of the Pernambuco complex, by incorporating the port into an international rotation that serves relevant markets for Brazilian foreign trade.
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