Interviews with Stolthaven Terminals and with Eurotainer
Guy Bessant President STOLTHAVEN TERMINALS
Could you remind us of Stolthaven Terminals’ recent operations in Brazil?
Stolthaven Terminals, within the wider Stolt-Nielsen group, has built a stable customer base in Brazil by offering customized specialty liquid logistics services across containers, tankers, and terminals.
In recent times, we have shifted our product portfolio with a mix of chemicals, clean petroleum products, specialty liquids and biofuel related products which is a growing market in Brazil.
Where has Stolthaven been investing to grow its business?
Stolthaven has invested heavily in digitalization, automation and IoT, and will complete our five-year development plan in this area in 2026.
Our current projects in Brazil include adding additional jetty capacity at our site in Santos and potentially developing a terminal in Pecém to handle up to 2.5 million t/y of green ammonia.
What is your assessment of Brazil’s chemical industry today?
The chemical industry in Brazil remains stable, though with limited new investment in production facilities due to a lack of strong industrial policy. Growth is more evident in renewable energy, including solar, wind, and future hydrogen plants from electrolysis or ethanol, as well as increasingly professional operations in animal fat processing.
Bioenergy-linked chemistry is expanding, while basic chemicals see minimal growth. However, recent 50% US tariffs on Brazilian products, including animal fat and ethanol, may disrupt supply chains and impact the sector.
What makes Brazil a good place to develop green ammonia production and export?
Brazil offers unique conditions for low-cost green ammonia production, particularly in the northeast, where strong, consistent wind and abundant sun complement the country’s largely hydroelectric energy matrix, ensuring stable supply. Pecém, near Fortaleza, is strategically located as Latin America’s closest port to Europe, enabling competitive shipping times.
Stolthaven plans a multi-customer terminal there for liquids and cryogenics, supporting small and medium producers by converting fixed costs into variable ones.
Jan Röbken and Olivier Houel JR: Managing Director – Containers Business Unit Streem Group OH: General Manager Americas
EUROTAINER
Could you introduce us to Streem Group and Eurotainer?
JR: Streem is a global leader in container leasing, operating three brands under its Containers unit: Eurotainer, Raffles Lease, and DEMI Container Services. While Raffles provides standard tanks for larger volumes, Eurotainer specializes in complex, customer-specific units and operates the world’s largest gas fleet – nearing 10,000 units across cryogenic to low-pressure applications. Streem supports its specialty fleet through advanced infrastructure, including the DEMI depot in Rotterdam and a state-of-the-art tank depot in Houston.
OH: Eurotainer is enhancing efficiency through asset upgrades and telemetry technology while maintaining a strong presence in Latin America, the Middle East, and India.
How has the tank container market evolved in recent years in Latin America?
OH: In the Americas, trade tensions have caused project delays, especially for US firms manufacturing abroad. Despite this, Eurotainer sees strong activity in Latin America, where customers are largely unaffected by US dynamics. Mining, particularly gold-related, is driving demand for chemical products and supporting regional growth.
How is Eurotainer embracing trends towards enhanced sustainability and safety?
OH: In Latin America, many customers have transitioned from using tank trucks or flexitanks to intermodal tank containers for transport by ship, rail or truck. Environmental concerns and ESG requirements from downstream clients are accelerating this shift, with a growing preference for reusable tank containers over single-use plastic-based alternatives like flexitanks.
Where does Eurotainer see potential for growth in the hydrogen market in Latin America?
OH: Latin America is emerging as a significant player in the clean hydrogen economy due to its abundant energy resources and strong energy and mining sectors. Countries like Chile, Mexico and Brazil are increasing demand for hydrogen and green ammonia equipment.