Stolthaven recognised in Brazil

BEST IN BREED

BRAZIL • STOLTHAVEN’S FOCUS ON SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE TERMINAL ACTIVITIES HAS PAID OFF WITH STEADY RETURNS AND RECOGNITION FROM ONE OF ITS MAJOR CUSTOMERS

STOLTHAVEN SANTOS HAS been named the best liquids bulk storage terminal in Brazil in the Safety & Productivity category by Raízen, an integrated energy company and leader in biofuels. The award recognises the best management performance in the areas of safety, processes, productivity and controls out of a total of 22 terminals in the country.

“Stolthaven Santos stands out for the consistency of its management in the areas of safety, productivity and quality, being a benchmark for our ethanol operations over the years,” says Nilton Gabardo, director of business development at Raízen. Santos is

STOLTHAVEN SANTOS IS PART OF BRAZIL’S MAIN EXPORT Brazil’s main export hub for pharmaceutical grade ethanol and has provided high levels of accuracy and quality, with an operational loss below 0.1 per cent and exemplary non-contamination records.

Guy Bessant, president of Stolthaven Terminals, says: “This award marks another step on our journey to becoming the world’s most respected global storage provider. We are only able to achieve our aims thanks to our outstanding people across all functions working as a team, not only in Santos, but around the globe. In recent years, we have increased our focus on improving the customer experience and this is beginning to reap tangible rewards.”

Marcelo Schmitt, general manager of Stolthaven Santos, adds: “I am extremely proud to be leading a team of such dedicated individuals. This prize recognises the efforts of all our people to deliver the highest standards of safety and care when handling our customers’ products. During the pandemic the team has demonstrated both resilience and commitment which has now been acknowledged by one of our most important customers.”

AROUND THE WORLD In the global perspective, Stolthaven Terminals reported operating revenue of $118.6m for the six months to end May, slightly below last year’s figure of $121.4m; operating profit also slipped, falling from $38.1m last year to $34.0m. The decrease in operating profit was mainly due to lower utilisation rates and throughput as well as higher maintenance, insurance and depreciation. This was partially offset by higher equity income from joint ventures.

“At Stolthaven Terminals we saw an increase in utilisation and throughput volumes, but pockets of weakness in Asia Pacific and Australia held the overall results down,” says Niels G Stolt-Nielsen, CEO of parent company Stolt-Nielsen Ltd. “Utilisation has continued to improve steadily over recent months, with an expectation that rates will follow.”

While early 2020 saw a massive fall in the price of oil and Stolthaven benefitted from the sudden need for more storage for petroleum products, its main activities are in chemicals and, increasingly, biofuels. As such, Bessant believes, it is well placed to cope with the changes coming as a result of government mandates around the world for a move away from carbon-based fuels.

Over the past two years Stolthaven has sold its Altona and Bundaberg terminals in Australia and consolidated its business in New Zealand with the decommissioning of the Wynyard terminal and the transfer of most of its chemical business to the Mount Manganui site, which has been expanded and upgraded.

Stolthaven, part of Stolt-Nielsen Ltd, now has 15 bulk liquids terminals around the world, of which 11 are wholly owned, offering a combined storage capacity of some 4.9m m³. www.stolt-nielsen.com