Paraná Ports Invests in Infrastructure Expansion for Fertilizer Storage at Ponta do Félix Port

The Rise in National Demand for Product Imports Has Led to the Need for Improvements in the Fertilizer Storage Infrastructure at Porto Ponta do Félix, and Portos do Paraná Is Now Working on Projects in This Segment.

The company Portos do Paraná is investing in infrastructure projects to expand the storage capacity for fertilizers at Porto Ponta do Félix, located in the state of Paraná. This is one of the main measures taken up to this Wednesday, (07/06), to keep up with the strong wave of product imports in Brazil, driven by the shortage of fertilizers within the national territory due to geopolitical conflicts between Russia and Ukraine.

Porto Ponta do Félix Undergoes Storage Infrastructure Expansion Project to Meet National Demand for Imports

After a severe crisis at the beginning of 2022 regarding fertilizer supply, caused by the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, the international market is stabilizing, and Brazil is increasingly importing the product. To meet this demand, the port company Portos do Paraná announced that Porto Ponta do Félix is now undergoing adjustments to its storage infrastructure, aiming to ensure greater efficiency in operations with this type of commodity. 

Thus, infrastructure works will take place to ensure an expansion of up to 78% in the storage capacity for fertilizers at the Paraná port. Portos do Paraná’s investment for these works will focus on new warehouses and storage sheds, which will be delivered in phases, with 40,000 tons in September and two additional warehouses, also with a capacity of 40,000 tons each, in January and April 2023.

As a result, the static capacity of Porto Ponta do Félix, which currently hovers around 270,000 tons, will be expanded to 480,000 tons.

The complex of Portos do Paraná is one of the most relevant in fertilizer import operations, and according to data from the port authority, there was a 373% increase in the volume of fertilizers unloaded between January and May of this year.

A total of 572,045 tons were unloaded in 2022, compared to 120,852 during the same period in 2021. Thus, the need for improvements in infrastructure is increasingly necessary as the port grows in storage operations of the product.

Portos do Paraná Highlights That There Were Already Plans for Infrastructure Improvements and That High Demand for Fertilizers Driven the Project

According to the CEO of Porto Ponta do Félix, Gilberto Birkhan, Porto Ponta do Félix would have undergone expansion works for storage capacity even before this high demand, but the current scenario has accelerated this need.

Gilberto said: “The unloading of fertilizers remains strong due to rising demand and an active market for commercial transactions. However, even before this scenario, here in Antonina, we were already working to meet the market, with the expansion of our storage structures.”

The executive also emphasized that the complex has been growing significantly throughout 2022, driven by greater flexibility in commercial negotiations and the generation of immediate revolving credit for importers. Thus, conducting fertilizer import operations has become even easier and more profitable for both Portos do Paraná and the companies involved in the activities. 

Now, Portos do Paraná continues to invest in its complexes located in the state of Paraná to ensure the continuity of leadership in the entry of goods through the region, as data from the Ministry of Economy shows that around 31.5% of products imported by Brazil arrive via Paranaguá and Antonina, making this one of the main import routes in the country.