In a significant move for Brazil’s shipbuilding industry, Transpetro, the transport and logistics subsidiary of state-owned oil giant Petrobras, has awarded a tender to Brazilian firms Ecovix and Mac Laren. The contract entails building four new coastal vessels, each valued at $69.5 million. Read more about the tender details and implications here.

This development marks the beginning of Petrobras’ strategic initiative to refresh its support fleet, aiming to rejuvenate Brazil’s shipbuilding industry, which has seen stagnant growth in recent years. According to IndexBox data, Brazil’s shipbuilding market has potential for growth, given the planned commission of 25 new ships under Petrobras’ 2025-2029 strategic plan, with 16 already outlined for development.

Transpetro’s CEO, Sergio Bacci, highlighted the event as a “milestone” for the company and the country’s shipbuilding sector. “It is a milestone for our management to resume the acquisition of ships in Brazil after 10 years without contracting vessels to expand the fleet,” Bacci said in an official statement.

The newly commissioned handy class vessels will have a capacity between 15,000 to 18,000 deadweight tonnage, aligning with Petrobras’ broader strategy to enhance its operational capabilities. Furthermore, Transpetro is set to continue its momentum by launching a second tender in January for eight pressurized and semi-refrigerated gas tankers, indicating consistent future demand for shipbuilding services in Brazil.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform