Brazil’s 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 International Container Terminal Services Inc. (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 percent, 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.

Strategic importance of the port

Accompanied by local authorities and executives of International Container Terminal Services Inc., 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.

Direct impact on employment and income

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 percent 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 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.