São Paulo port expansion

Brazil: Brazil's environmental protection agency IBAMA (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis) has granted environmental licensing to the Embraport project at São Paulo's Santos port, according to local news agencies.

Brazilian logistics company Grupo Coimex said the licensing means construction to turn Embraport into the largest multipurpose port terminal in Brazil will start later this year. The BRL 853 million (US$ 400 million) project includes construction of an 80 ha terminal and 1.1 km of wharfs, and, when complete, it will be able to accommodate ships up to 300 m in length.

Coimex said it expects to complete construction by 2013 at the latest.