The port authorities of Valencia, Spain, and Santos, Brazil, have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a green maritime corridor aimed at decarbonising shipping between Europe and South America.

The agreement was signed in Panama at the Global Gateway Green Shipping Corridors and Hubs (GGGSCH) Regional Workshop for Latin America and the Caribbean. Mar Chao, president of Valenciaport, and Beto Mendes, acting president and director of operations at Santos Port Authority, signed the memorandum at the International Maritime University of Panama.

The event was attended by Félix Fernández-Shaw, director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Partnerships, and Ambassador Isabela Matusz, representing the Panama delegation.

"The Santos-Valencia corridor reinforces our decarbonisation strategy and will allow us to coordinate actions to promote the use of low or zero-emission fuels, shore power supply, terminal electrification and logistical efficiency through advanced digital technologies," Chao said.

Mendes explained that for Santos Port, "decarbonisation is part of a structured strategy of energy planning and transformation of the port system. In this context, the green maritime corridor between the Port of Santos, in Brazil, and the Port of Valencia, in Spain, constitutes a milestone in international cooperation oriented towards the energy transition of maritime transport."

According to Mendes, the initiative aligns with Santos Port's Energy Master Plan and "reinforces technical and institutional cooperation between both ports and contributes to the development of sustainable, innovative and resilient solutions for global logistics chains."

Santos is currently the main South American port for Valencia's import and export traffic. The creation of the green corridor is expected to strengthen the position of both ports as strategic gateways for trade between the two continents.

Chao noted that both ports have decarbonisation plans, with Valencia aiming to achieve climate neutrality by 2035, while Santos is positioning itself as a green hub in Brazil and Latin America.

Valenciaport closed 2025 with the presentation of its Net Zero Emissions plan, which includes planned or ongoing investments of €900m. The plan encompasses infrastructure projects aimed at port energy self-sufficiency and a climate change adaptation plan.

The memorandum establishes a collaboration framework that includes cooperation with shipping lines, cargo owners, energy suppliers and research centres. It promotes the adoption of sustainable fuels, including LNG, biofuels, green methanol, green ammonia and hydrogen, as well as carbon capture and reuse technologies.

Both port authorities will facilitate the use of technologies aimed at reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency and transitioning to low or zero-carbon energy sources at both ports. They will also advance collaboration with participants to support and encourage emissions reduction along designated routes between the two ports.

The initiative is part of the Global Gateway strategy, the European external investment programme aimed at strengthening strategic partnerships and accelerating the transition towards more sustainable and competitive maritime transport, with particular attention to Latin America and the Caribbean.