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Deal Brings Together German Giant Hapag-Lloyd, via Hanseatic Global Terminals, and Imetame Group in New Container Terminal in Aracruz, with Depth of 17 Meters, Capacity for 1.2 Million TEUs, Focus on Capixaba Coffee, and Operation Expected for Mid-2028 Following Regulatory Approval and Clearance from Brazilian Antitrust Authorities.
The German giant Hapag-Lloyd, through its subsidiary Hanseatic Global Terminals (HGT), announced on Tuesday an agreement to acquire 50% of Imetame Logística Porto (ILP), the joint venture responsible for the new port in Aracruz, Espírito Santo. This deal marks the direct entry of the European group into the operation of a Capixaba container terminal, in partnership with the Imetame Group.
Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly develop and operate a deep water container terminal, designed to accommodate large ships, enhance the export of coffee produced in the state, and position Espírito Santo as a Strategic Route in Maritime Logistics in Latin America.
Who is the German Giant Behind the New Port?
Hanseatic Global Terminals is a wholly owned subsidiary of the German giant Hapag-Lloyd, one of the world’s leading global shipping and container companies.
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The acquisition of 50% of Imetame Logística Porto places the group in a partnership specifically focused on the operation of container terminals at the new Capixaba port.
The ILP was structured as a joint venture to handle containerized cargo, and the arrival of the German giant brings international expertise in long-haul routes and the operation of large vessels, reinforcing the ambition to transform Aracruz into an important connection point for cargoes in the region.
Aracruz Gains Deep Terminal for Giant Ships
The new terminal will be built in Aracruz, a municipality in Espírito Santo chosen to receive a port structure with forecasted depth of 17 meters.
This depth allows the berthing of large vessels, expanding the type of ships that can operate along the Capixaba coast.
In addition to the reinforced draft, the project calls for about 750 meters of wharf, ample space to simultaneously accommodate different container ships.
The combination of extensive wharf and great depth is seen as one of the project’s strengths in competing for more competitive international routes.
Capixaba Coffee at the Center of the Strategy
Among the sectors directly interested in the new structure is coffee.
Espírito Santo is the largest producer of canephora beans in Brazil, and the terminal in Aracruz emerges as an alternative to export this production through a port specialized in containers, with the participation of a German giant in maritime transport.
The expectation is that the new port will help reduce logistical bottlenecks, offer more route options for coffee exporters and other commodities, and strengthen the state’s role in the national export matrix.
The presence of Hapag-Lloyd is likely to bring local producers closer to global shippers and major international buyers.
Capacity, Timeline, and Next Regulatory Steps
The facility in Aracruz has operations expected to begin by mid-2028, with an annual capacity projected at around 1.2 million TEUs.
The 750-meter wharf and the 17-meter draft place the terminal in the category of ports prepared for next-generation vessels on long-haul routes.
The transaction values between HGT and Imetame Group have not been disclosed. The closing of the deal still depends on approval from antitrust authorities and relevant regulators, as well as other usual contractual conditions in operations of this scale.
Until then, the German giant and the Brazilian group continue aligning projects and steps to bring the terminal to fruition within the planned timetable.
Latin America as a Strategic Market
In the announcement of the agreement, the CEO of HGT, Dheeraj Bhatia, emphasized that Latin America is considered a strategic market for Hanseatic Global Terminals and Hapag-Lloyd.
The investment in the port of Aracruz fits into this long-term vision, which seeks to expand the group’s presence in key logistical corridors in the region.
With a deep terminal, export vocation, and focus on containers, Aracruz is set to position itself as a competitive alternative for Brazilian and Latin American cargoes, especially in the commodities segment like Capixaba coffee, connected to major global routes operated by the German giant.
Do you believe that the entry of this German giant in Aracruz could change the balance of power among the ports in Brazil’s Southeast?
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