ICTSI to invest R$948 million to expand, modernize Rio Brasil Terminal
Philippine operator will increase its capacity by more than 70% and position terminal as a strategic logistics hub for the Southeast and Midwest regions of Brazil.
The Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, has announced a new private investment of R$948 million in works to expand and modernize the operations of the ICTSI Rio Brasil Terminal at the Port of Rio de Janeiro. The project, which will be executed between 2025 and 2029, will increase the public terminal's operational capacity by 70.5%, from the current 440 thousand TEUs per year to 750 thousand TEUs per year, consolidating Rio de Janeiro as a reference logistics hub for the Southeast and Midwest regions of Brazil.
Accompanied by local authorities and executives of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), the minister reinforced the strategic importance of the project for the expansion, modernization and greater competitiveness of the national port system, one of the priorities of his management at the head of the portfolio. The total investment of R$948 million comprises approximately R$414.4 million in infrastructure works and R$533.5 million in the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment. The actions include the unification and expansion of storage yards, rearrangement of buildings to optimize internal flows, acquisition of new equipment for container handling, modernization of utility systems and electrical infrastructure, as well as investments in technology and automation, with increased efficiency of customer services.
“It's an investment of almost R$1 billion that will be essential for us to expand operations here at the port, going from 440 thousand to 750 thousand TEU and, in the future, perhaps reaching 1.2 million,” said Minister Filho.
According to the minister, the measure also has a direct impact on employment and income. “I always say: Brazil's largest social program is employment and income,” he added, reinforcing the potential for generating opportunities with the expansion of the terminal.
Costa Filho also highlighted the Port of Rio de Janeiro's performance in 2025 and stated that the investment policy is part of a strategy to increase the competitiveness of the national port system. “As of November 30, the Port of Rio had already grown 14% in cargo movement. This is important because, when we put the port in partnership with the Federal Government, the state government and municipalities, we strengthen the country's production chain and logistics,” he said.
The expansion and modernization project includes the implementation of advanced access control, monitoring and cargo management systems, as well as the adequacy of the infrastructure to meet recent regulatory requirements, especially the rules of the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service. It also promotes environmental sustainability measures, in line with ICTSI's global commitments to responsible operations and decarbonization.
"This is a transformative project that reinforces our commitment to Brazil and expansion, efficiency and competitiveness of the national logistics chain. This effort is in addition to our investments in the Rio-Minas and Rio-Suzano logistics corridors, where ICTSI has already invested more than R$190 million, with an emphasis on rail transport. Thus, we will not only expand the capacity of the Rio Brasil Terminal but also be able to help mitigate the congestion observed in the Port of Santos, better distributing the port demand in the country" says Roberto Lopes, Rio Brasil Terminal chief executive officer.
Efficiency gains and greater competitiveness
The expansion of the Rio Brasil Terminal will allow the terminal to continuously operate large vessels on the full berth, including new Panamax and post-Panamax vessels, up to 366 meters long (LOA) and with a capacity of more than 13,000 TEUs. This adaptation is essential to keep up with the global trend of increasing the size of vessels that call the east coast of South America. The first two new cranes already arriving mid-2026 are built for the world’s largest vessels with a length of 400 meters.
In addition, the Port of Rio de Janeiro has registered a significant and continuous increase in container handling, a direct reflection of the growth of Brazilian foreign trade. Since 2023, there has been a significant increase in volume handled, a trend that continues in 2025 and is expected to continue in the coming years.
"This investment is essential for Rio to increase its efficiency and maintain its competitiveness and its ability to absorb part of the demand currently concentrated in Santos. We are talking about a project that benefits not only the terminal, but the entire economy of the Southeast and Midwest of Brazil," adds Lopes.
With new cranes and additional yard capacity already being available in 2026, ICTSI Rio is already in the market now offering this additional capacity to customers. With the full implementation of the investments, the terminal will be operating with capacity utilization of around 75% between 2029 and 2030, ensuring more predictability and competitiveness for the port of Rio de Janeiro. This translates into more fluid operations, limited waiting times, reduced logistics costs, and greater resilience in the face of possible bottlenecks in other ports. Without the interventions, the terminal could be saturated between 2027 and 2028, according to projections.
"ICTSI is the largest independent container operator in the world, with 34 terminals in 20 countries. In Brazil, we are focused on bringing the highest international standards of operational efficiency and technological development to our operations. This project demonstrates our long-term commitment to the development of Brazilian logistics competitiveness," said Anders Kjeldsen, ICTSI's Vice President for the Americas.