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International Container Terminal Services, Inc. subsidiary ICTSI Rio Brasil Terminal is investing about US$175 million to expand and modernize the operations of Container Terminal 1 at the Port of Rio de Janeiro
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The project was announced by Brazil minister of ports and airports Silvio Costa Filho
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It is expected to be completed by 2029 and will increase the public terminal’s operational capacity by 70.5%, from the current 440,000 TEUs per year to 750,000 TEUs/year
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Of the total investment, over $76 million will be invested in infrastructure works and $98 million in the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment
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The terminal will be operating with capacity utilization of around 75% between 2029 and 2030
International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) subsidiary ICTSI Rio Brasil Terminal is investing R948 million – equivalent to about US$175 million – to expand and modernize the operations of Container Terminal 1 at the Port of Rio de Janeiro, as announced by Brazil minister of ports and airports Silvio Costa Filho.
The project, set for rollout between 2025 and 2029, will increase the public terminal’s operational capacity by 70.5%, from the current 440,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year to 750,000 TEUs per year, consolidating Rio de Janeiro as a reference logistics hub for the southeast and midwest regions of Brazil, ICTSI said in a statement.
Accompanied by local authorities and executives of ICTSI, Costa Filho stressed 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.
“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,” Costa Filho said.
According to the minister, the investment also has a direct impact on employment and income.
“I always say: Brazil’s largest social program is employment and income,” he said, 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% 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 total investment comprises approximately R$414.4 million (over $76 million) in infrastructure works and R$533.5 million ($98 million) for the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment.
Work includes 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.
The project also 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.
“This is a transformative project that reinforces our commitment to Brazil and expansion, efficiency and competitiveness of the national logistics chain,” Rio Brasil Terminal chief executive officer Roberto Lopes said.
He said the new investment is in addition to investments made in the Rio-Minas and Rio-Suzano logistics corridors, where ICTSI has already invested more than R$190 million, with an emphasis on rail transport.
“Thus, we will not only expand the capacity of the Rio Brasil Terminal but also be able to help mitigate the congestion observed in the Port of Santos, better distributing the port demand in the country,” Lopes said.
ICTSI said the expansion of Rio Brasil Terminal will allow the terminal to continuously operate large vessels on the full berth, including new Panamax and post-Panamax vessels, up to 366 meters long and with a capacity of more than 13,000 TEUs.
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The port operator said this adaptation is essential to keep up with the global trend of increasing the size of vessels that call the east coast of South America.
The first two new cranes already arriving mid-2026 are built for the world’s largest vessels with a length of 400 meters.
In addition, the Port of Rio de Janeiro has registered a significant and continuous increase in container handling, a direct reflection of the growth of Brazilian foreign trade. Since 2023, ICTSI said there has been a significant increase in volume handled, a trend that continues in 2025 and is expected to continue in the coming years.
“This investment is essential for Rio to increase its efficiency and maintain its competitiveness and its ability to absorb part of the demand currently concentrated in Santos. We are talking about a project that benefits not only the terminal, but the entire economy of the Southeast and Midwest of Brazil,” Lopes said.
With new cranes and additional yard capacity already being available in 2026, ICTSI Rio is already in the market now offering this additional capacity to customers. With the full implementation of the investments, the terminal will be operating with capacity utilization of around 75% between 2029 and 2030, ensuring more predictability and competitiveness for the port of Rio de Janeiro.
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ICTSI said this translates into more fluid operations, limited waiting times, reduced logistics costs, and greater resilience in the face of possible bottlenecks in other ports. Without the interventions, the terminal could be saturated between 2027 and 2028, according to projections.
“ICTSI is the largest independent container operator in the world, with 34 terminals in 20 countries. In Brazil, we are focused on bringing the highest international standards of operational efficiency and technological development to our operations. This project demonstrates our long-term commitment to the development of Brazilian logistics competitiveness,” said Anders Kjeldsen, ICTSI vice president for the Americas.
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