The Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) approved on Wednesday (2) the bidding model for the auction of MUC04, a new container terminal at the Port of Fortaleza (CE). The project marks the resumption, after two decades, of a tender for a new terminal of this type in the country. With the Court's approval, the process moves to the National Waterway Transportation Agency (Antaq), responsible for setting the auction date.
MUC04 will be dedicated to the handling and storage of containerized cargo and will play a significant logistical role in the Northeast's economy, especially in supporting agribusiness exports and the movement of fruits, a segment that requires infrastructure with reefer plugs and efficiency in the cold chain to reach international markets quickly.
The winning bidder will have a contractual period of 25 years to invest approximately R$ 429 million in the terminal's infrastructure. Currently, container operations at the Port of Fortaleza occur in a fragmented manner, under a transitional contract, in a limited area of about 88,000 square meters. The new lease will consolidate MUC04 in a continuous and expanded area of approximately 148,000 square meters, allowing for optimized layout and substantial improvements.
The expansion of the structure will increase the offer of port services for the hinterland of Ceará, which covers several states in the Northeast and Central-West regions, contributing to increased competitiveness, reduced logistical costs, and the modernization of the flow of Ceará's production and exports.
With an annual handling capacity of 360,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit), the project is also expected to contribute to job creation, with an estimated 379 direct positions, including administrative and operational roles.
