Rocha Terminais Portuários e Logística has begun operations at the Port of Santana, Amapá's leading cargo terminal, marking the company's entry into the North region of the country and expanding its presence in the Northern Arc, a strategic logistics corridor for the shipment of Brazilian agricultural output.
The terminal spans 11.7 thousand square meters and has storage capacity of 76.6 thousand tonnes, and is dedicated to the handling and storage of solid vegetable bulk cargo, primarily soybeans and corn. Operations take place in the MCP03 area, leased by the company through an auction held in 2024. The concession contract runs for 25 years and provides for investments of R$ 88 million.
According to the company, the unit will strengthen logistics infrastructure geared to foreign trade and boost the capacity to move agricultural output from the North and Center-West regions.
"This expansion is a milestone in Rocha's trajectory. Our primary goal will be to develop the area and create jobs, contributing strategically to the development of the Northern Arc through increased operational capacity and competitiveness at the Port of Santana," says Darlan De David, CEO of Rocha Terminais Portuários e Logística.
Beyond the launch of operations, the company announced a plan to expand terminal facilities that includes extending the berth by 30 meters and constructing new storage silos. The improvements are expected to raise the port's operational capacity and increase its competitiveness in serving Brazilian agribusiness.
The Northern Arc region, comprising ports and transshipment terminals located in the states of Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia and Maranhão, has been consolidating its importance as a logistics alternative for national exports. The corridor has been recording growth, driven mainly by rising grain exports and increased fertilizer imports. Data from the National Supply Company (Conab) show that fertilizer imports through the region's ports grew 98% over the past four years, reaching 7.01 million tonnes.
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The strategic location of Santana Port is an advantage recognized by the company, as it favors access to European and Asian markets, while offering logistical advantages due to proximity to the Panama Canal. "Proximity to the Panama Canal and to Europe, in itself, makes cargo handling through the North attractive. And recent public and private investments are set to boost its relevance to the national economy," says Darlan De David.
With the inauguration of the unit in Santana, Rocha expands its presence in the Brazilian port system. The company already operates at the ports of Paranaguá (PR), São Francisco do Sul (SC), and Rio Grande (RS), in addition to maintaining operations at Itaqui Port (MA), consolidating a network focused on the handling of solid and liquid bulk cargo, general cargo, pulp, and steel products.
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