The Port of Suape intends to offer offshore refueling services. As of now, only Petrobras provides this kind of service throughout Brazil. However, this monopoly may be broken thanks to Normative Instruction No. 2,109, published in October 2022, which allows private parties to enter this activity. The normative act stipulates the suspension of federal taxes levied on domestic sales and the importation of bunker fuel oil used for cabotage navigation and port and maritime support. This benefit was previously only available to Petrobras. As a result, the activity should attract new vessels to the Pernambuco-based port, expanding the movement of cargo and takers. In addition, fuel distributors will have the opportunity to import the bunker and store it at the port, generating more revenue from the collection of fees.
Sources: Click Petróleo e Gás/Datamar News