DP World Signs Strategic Agreement with Maersk to Expand Services at Port of Santos
DP World has inked a long-term strategic deal with Maersk, marking a significant move to enhance maritime services at its terminal in the Port of Santos, Brazil. With DP World operating one of Brazil’s largest private terminals at the Port of Santos, the plan is to boost capacity by 50 percent to support Maersk’s growth in Latin America.
As per the eight-year agreement, Maersk will introduce additional long-term services and ensure a minimum service level. Initially, Maersk will kick off with six new services featuring eight weekly calls, which will ramp up to seven services and 10 weekly calls by 2026 following DP World’s capacity expansion.
“This announcement signifies another strategic advancement for DP World in Brazil, solidifying our presence at the Port of Santos and paving the way for new expansion opportunities in the country,” stated Márcio Medina, Commercial Vice President at DP World in Brazil. He emphasized that the agreement with Maersk not only facilitates the expansion of operational capacity for container handling but also guarantees long-term access to Brazil’s premier port and logistics hub.
Currently, the terminal manages 1.4 million TEUs annually. To cater to escalating demand, DP World is injecting R$450 million (US$79 million) to augment its container-handling capacity to 1.7 million TEUs by the close of 2026. Furthermore, the company has blueprinted an additional investment of R$1.6 billion (US$280 million) to further elevate capacity to 2.1 million TEUs by the end of 2027.
“This agreement with DP World secures service capacity for Maersk at the Port of Santos,” affirmed Paulo Ruy, Regional Head of Terminal & Port Procurement for Latin America at Maersk. “Through this commercial pact with DP World, we are well-positioned to fulfill the surging demand for container handling and enrich our service offerings, ensuring the seamless provision of end-to-end logistics solutions alongside our standalone products.”
DP World disclosed that it achieved a record-breaking container-handling volume at the Port of Santos in 2024, surpassing 1.25 million TEUs – a 14 percent year-on-year surge. The upsurge was propelled by expanded container operations and the introduction of new services. The company recently funneled R$50 million (US$8.8 million) into cutting-edge port equipment as part of its ongoing R$85 million (US$15 million) terminal expansion initiative, set to elevate capacity to 1.7 million TEUs. Additionally, DP World divulged a strengthened network through a fresh collaboration with Rumo, Brazil’s premier railway operator, to construct a new terminal for grain and fertilizer shipments, thereby adding 12.5 million tons of operational capacity annually.