Port of Rotterdam, Brazil Looking to Form Pecém JV

Ceará Portos The Dutch Port of Rotterdam has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the State Government of Ceará, Brazil, on a potential cooperation in an effort to form the joint venture Industrial Port Complex of Pecém. The Industrial Port Complex of Pecém, situated close to Fortaleza, is a brownfield port with a throughput of 11 million tons in 2016, mainly coal, iron ore, containers and LNG. The MoU is consistent with the Port of Rotterdam Authoritys foreign policy which is focused on creating opportunities in ports abroad that have perspective for growth.  In addition to the Port of Pecém, Port of Rotterdam is developing another Brazilian port, Porto Central, near Vitória in the State of Espírito Santo. The project currently focuses on obtaining all necessary licenses as well as client contracts. The port said that its two current projects are independent and complimentary, as they serve distinct hinterlands (2.500 km apart) and will handle different commodities. The port is also engaged in two joint ventures, one with the Sultanate of Oman for the management and development of SOHAR Port & Freezone, and the other for the development of Kuala Tanjung, Indonesia.