For Lucas Moreno, CEO of Ellox Digital, government projections on the STS-10 are unreal and will not resolve logistics bottlenecks
The new STS-10 container terminal, in the port of Santos (SP), may not have the operational capacity released by the federal government. The assessment is, CEO of, technology company applied to maritime logistics.
According to Moreno, the estimate of increasing 3.5 million TEUS (unit of measurement equivalent to a 20 feet container) is based on unreal assumptions. THE business plan The terminal considers a 90% occupancy rate, when the ideal, according to standards of (organization for economic cooperation and development), is working with 65% to 75% to avoid exogenous shocks such as internal bottlenecks and additional stacking costs.
“You can’t work at 90%. Why? Because there are times when there are peaks. You need to have this idle capacity to endure these outer shocks. For example, imagine how many terminals, how many containers are stopped in Brazilian ports now. They were going to the United States and the exporters said I don’t embark on my load, because I’m worried about being charged ”said in an interview with Poder360.
With the actual operating conditions and the average length of permanence of the containers in the courtyard, 7 days instead of the 5 planned, the executive calculated an effective capacity near 2.2 million thy.
Watch the full interview (26min39s):
Lucas Moreno also highlighted the possibility of part of the area being intended for specific loads, such as cars or industrial projects, which would further reduce the capacity available for containers.
“We have seen some associations wanting to have a space in this terminal that is not 100% container, which has a space for car export. It has a concern to stay here in the port of Santos only one terminal with car export and then have a concentration and the possible monopoly ”he said.
Structural delays
The STS-10 has been in planning since the previous government, but has not yet left the paper. Even if the auction is held later this year, the estimate is 5 to 7 years of works until the conclusion.
According to Ellox Digital, 59% of ships suffered in the port of Santos in June 2025, resulting in a delay of 8 days.
“It’s a little too late, but it is necessary to get out of paper to take a breath [na capacidade operacional do Porto de Santos]”he declared.
Restrictions
Lucas Moreno also criticized the decision of (National Waterway Transport Agency) of the participation of shipowners who already work in the port of Santos in the auction.
The regulatory agency states that the auction model in two stages, being the 2nd phase open to the incumbers only if there are no winners in the 1st and give up the assets in Santos.
For the CEO, the measure can reduce competitiveness in the dispute and reduce the collection of granting, which could be directed to other logistics works, such as road and rail access to Porto.
