Maersk Expands Inland Logistics Network in Southern Brazil with New Depots

# Maersk Expands Inland Logistics Network in Southern Brazil with New Depots A.P. Moller – Maersk announced expansion of its logistics infrastructure in Brazil's southern port regions, opening new inland depot facilities in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, and Paranaguá, Paraná. The investment reflects the carrier's strategy to build integrated end-to-end supply chain solutions and capitalize on growing containerized export volumes through South America's two busiest southern gateways. Both facilities were selected for their proximity to major agricultural and industrial production centers and direct positioning near their respective ports, enabling tighter connections between ocean-going vessels and regional hinterland distribution networks. According to Maersk, the depots will reduce container dwell times, improve inland transport efficiency, and mitigate seasonal bottlenecks during peak harvest periods—critical objectives for a region responsible for significant volumes of soybeans, corn, and meat products bound for global markets. Rio Grande and Paranaguá together handle roughly 60% of Brazil's containerized port traffic. Rio Grande, the country's southernmost major port, serves as the primary gateway for Rio Grande do Sul's agricultural output, while Paranaguá handles cargo from Paraná, São Paulo, and Paraguay. Both ports experience acute congestion during austral harvest seasons (March–May), when volumes can overwhelm landside infrastructure. Maersk's new depots aim to function as buffer facilities, enabling carriers and freight forwarders to stage containers closer to production centers rather than congesting port terminals. The Rio Grande facility also integrates with Aliança Navegação e Logística's cabotage network—coastal shipping services that redistribute containers between Brazilian ports. This positioning allows Maersk to offer shippers optionality: containers can move via vessel feeder services to northern Brazilian ports or Guyana, or consolidate for direct ocean service. The cabotage angle underscores Maersk's effort to offer what it terms "integrated solutions," bundling ocean, inland, and intra-South American services into single booking arrangements. The investment arrives as Brazilian agricultural exports continue climbing. The country exported 134 million metric tons of agricultural products in 2025, with containerized shipments of specialty crops, beef, and processed foods increasingly competing on global markets where integrated logistics services command premium pricing. For major shipper accounts, door-to-door reliability and predictable inland transit times often outweigh pure freight rate competition. Maersk's move also reflects broader carrier strategy to control interior touchpoints in Brazilian supply chains. Rival carrier CMA CGM has similarly expanded inland container park capacity in recent years, while port authorities and local logistics operators have invested in larger, more automated depot facilities. Consolidation of inland logistics under carrier brands can improve margins, reduce external handling costs, and strengthen customer lock-in through integrated service offerings. For shippers, new inland depot capacity in southern Brazil could moderate seasonal shipping delays and reduce detention costs during peak periods. However, broader supply chain improvements would require matching infrastructure upgrades at the ports themselves—where São Paulo state and federal authorities have invested in terminal automation and berth improvements. The new Maersk depots address only the inland segment of the congestion puzzle. The investment underscores Maersk's long-term commitment to Brazil, South America's largest economy and a strategic market for containerized agricultural and industrial exports. No timeline for the facilities' opening was disclosed.