Brazilian Court Bars Maersk and Others from Initial Santos Terminal Auction Round
A Brazilian court has supported a proposal by the National Agency for Waterway Transport (Antaq) to structure the auction for a new port terminal concession in Santos, Brazil. The court's decision aligns with Antaq's plan to exclude current terminal operators from the first round of bidding. This move is intended to foster competition and increase investment in the port, which is the largest in South America and is nearing its container capacity limit. The auction is anticipated to be the largest in Brazil's port history, potentially leading to the creation of the country's largest container terminal. Current operators, including Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, and DP World, have expressed opposition to this structure, arguing it limits the project's potential. Despite their complaints, the court ruled in favor of Antaq's proposal, emphasizing the need for increased competition.