What are the investment requirements for the new terminal?

The new megaterminal at Port of Santos is expected to require an investment of 5.6 billion reais, which is approximately $1 billion.

What are the restrictions for incumbent companies in the bidding?

Incumbent companies are barred from participating in the first round of bidding but can bid in subsequent rounds if no valid proposals are received in the first phase.

What steps might Maersk take following the judge's ruling?

Maersk indicated that it would consider an appeal and other 'appropriate measures' in response to the ruling regarding the port auction.

Editorial & Advertiser disclosure

Global Banking & Finance Review® is an online platform offering news, analysis, and opinion on the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the banking and finance industry worldwide. The platform covers a diverse range of topics, including banking, insurance, investment, wealth management, fintech, and regulatory issues. The website publishes news, press releases, opinion and advertorials on various financial organizations, products and services which are commissioned from various Companies, Organizations, PR agencies, Bloggers etc. These commissioned articles are commercial in nature. This is not to be considered as financial advice and should be considered only for information purposes. It does not reflect the views or opinion of our website and is not to be considered an endorsement or a recommendation. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information provided with respect to your individual or personal circumstances. Please seek Professional advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. We link to various third-party websites, affiliate sales networks, and to our advertising partners websites. When you view or click on certain links available on our articles, our partners may compensate us for displaying the content to you or make a purchase or fill a form. This will not incur any additional charges to you. To make things simpler for you to identity or distinguish advertised or sponsored articles or links, you may consider all articles or links hosted on our site as a commercial article placement. We will not be responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of any omission or inaccuracy on the website.

Home > Finance > Brazil judge rejects Maersk request to alter $1 billion port auction

Finance

Brazil judge rejects Maersk request to alter $1 billion port auction

Q: What was Maersk's request regarding the port auction?

Maersk requested a suspension of the bidding process for the Tecon 10 terminal at Brazil's Port of Santos, pending a call for a new public consultation.

Q: What did the judge say about the auction process?

Judge Paulo Cezar Neves Junior stated that he did not find any illegality in the way the marine authority designed the auction and noted that Brazil's federal audit court is also reviewing the process.

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®

Posted on July 23, 2025

2 min read

Last updated: January 22, 2026

Brazil judge rejects Maersk request to alter $1 billion port auction - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review

Brazilian Judge Denies Maersk's Bid to Halt $1 Billion Port Auction

By Luciana Magalhaes

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -A Brazilian judge has rejected a request by Danish shipping group Maersk to suspend a bidding process for the Tecon 10 terminal at Brazil's Port of Santos pending its call for a review to allow firms already operating there into the first phase.

Maersk filed a lawsuit last month against Brazil's marine transport authority (Antaq), calling for corrections to the bidding process to build and run the new megaterminal at Latin America's largest port, as first reported by Reuters.

Incumbent companies are barred from the first round of bidding for the contract for the terminal, which is expected to require 5.6 billion reais ($1.0 billion) of investment.

Judge Paulo Cezar Neves Junior said he did not see any illegality in the way the marine authority designed the auction and noted that Brazil's federal audit court is also analyzing the bidding process. He therefore denied Maersk's injunction request, citing the absence of an imminent risk that would warrant judicial intervention.

In a statement, Maersk said on Wednesday that the ruling, issued on Tuesday, referred to a request for a new public consultation and did not cover its questions over the guidelines barring incumbent operators from the auction's first phase.

The company said it would consider an appeal and other "appropriate measures".

According to the current bidding rules, if no valid proposals are received in the first phase of the auction, operators of existing container terminals at Santos can bid in subsequent rounds, provided they divest their other holdings in the port complex. The marine authority did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The restrictions clear the path for new companies, including Asian rivals or local players such as JBS Terminais, the recently established port operating unit of Brazilian meatpacker JBS. JBS Terminais declined to comment on the matter.

(Reporting by Luciana Magalhaes; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

Brazil judge rejects Maersk request to alter $1 billion port auction

Quick Summary

Brazilian Judge Denies Maersk's Bid to Halt $1 Billion Port Auction

Key Takeaways

Frequently Asked Questions about Brazil judge rejects Maersk request to alter $1 billion port auction