Event Enters Second Edition and Establishes Itself in Santa Catarina’s Port Calendar.

On June 20 and 21, Porto Itapoá hosted the second edition of the Santa Catarina Port Sector Forum. The event gathered around 200 participants, including experts in logistics, port management, foreign trade, and port law, as well as representatives from state and federal public administrations. The forum provided a platform to discuss daily port activities, challenges, and best management practices in one of the most economically significant sectors for the state.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) topics were prominently featured. Marcelo Salles, a consultant and port specialist, highlighted the urgent need to address climate change. He emphasized the importance of mitigation efforts to meet the Paris Agreement targets and discussed the long-term impact on Brazilian foreign trade, noting that rising costs will affect high-value cargoes, particularly commodities.

Egídio Martorano from FIESC addressed infrastructure challenges, particularly the reliance on road transport, which accounts for 69% of freight movement in Santa Catarina. He stressed the necessity of infrastructure investment and maintenance to ensure economic efficiency and competitiveness.

During the panel on port management and performance, Porto Itapoá showcased its growth projection, aiming to handle 2 million TEUs by 2031 and become South America’s largest and most efficient terminal. Porto de São Francisco do Sul reported a 33% increase in cargo movement due to recent improvements.

Portonave in Navegantes outlined a R$ 1 billion investment to upgrade its quay for 400m vessels, leading to a 41% productivity increase in early 2024. Meanwhile, Porto de Itajaí is set to resume operations at its leased quay, expanding its operational area to 308.8 thousand m².

SCPAR Porto de Imbituba highlighted its record-breaking cargo movement in March 2024, with an annual target of 8.4 million tons. Port activities now account for 54% of Imbituba’s economy.

The forum aims to foster experience sharing and integration among public and private terminals, ports, and sector professionals. According to Professor Dr. Ademar Dutra, the event’s organizer, the forum succeeded in promoting discussion, sharing best practices, and positioning Santa Catarina as a national leader in port operations.

The event was organized by the University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNISUL), the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) – Florianópolis and Joinville campuses, and the University of Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI).