Ultracargo

What Ultracargo does

Ultracargo is Brazil's largest independent liquid bulk storage and logistics operator, running a network of nine terminals that collectively hold more than one million cubic meters of static capacity for fuels, chemicals, petrochemicals, biofuels, and vegetable oils. The company's infrastructure spans strategic coastal ports — Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Aratu, Itaqui, Suape, and Vila do Conde — alongside inland terminals at Palmeirante, Paulínia (through a 50/50 joint venture with bp called Opla), and Rondonópolis, connected via road, rail, waterway, and pipeline to form multimodal corridors that link Brazil's agricultural interior to export gateways such as Arco Norte.

Operations are anchored by long-tenor port concessions — including a 20-year renewable lease (up to 70 years) for the IQI13 area at Porto do Itaqui won in 2021 — and revenue is generated through ANTAQ-regulated usage-based storage fees and transaction-based throughput charges for handling, loading, and unloading across the multimodal network. Ultracargo serves enterprise customers in the chemical, petrochemical, fuel distribution, biofuel, and agribusiness sectors, with go-to-market executed through enterprise field sales, executive-level relationships, and active participation in industry events including Rio Oil & Gas, IPC, Intermodal, and the UN COP conferences.

Technologically, the company is deploying AI-powered sensors for predictive maintenance, SAP S/4HANA for enterprise integration, robotic tank cleaning and inspection that reduces water consumption by more than 90%, an internal Ultracapex feasibility tool, and proprietary methods such as Ship-To-Barge direct transfer and geodesic dome installation. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Grupo Ultra (Ultrapar Participações S.A., B3:UGPA3), and in 2025 it transitioned leadership to CEO Fulvius Tomelin while announcing senior executive additions in People/Communication/Sustainability and Sales/Planning to support its interiorization and expansion strategy.

Name

Ultracargo

Legal name

Ultracargo

Website

https://ultracargo.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Ultracargo is Brazil's largest independent liquid bulk storage and multimodal logistics operator, running nine terminals handling fuels, chemicals, biofuels, and vegetable oils across strategic ports and inland corridors connecting the agricultural interior to export gateways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Liquid Bulk Terminal Logistics Services

NAICS

Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals (424710), Pipeline Transportation of Refined Petroleum Products (486910), Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil (4861), Warehousing and Storage (4931)

SIC

Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals (5171), Pipe Lines (No Natural Gas) (4610)

akta.pro primary industry

Liquid Bulk Storage & Tank Farm Operators (Independent Storage) (TLAHABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conventional Marine Fuel Bunkering (HFO/VLSFO/MGO/ULSFO) (TLAHAKAA), Bunker Storage Terminals & Tank Farms (Onshore/Offshore) (TLAHAKAF), Biofuel Blending, Storage & Terminal Operations (EUAAAHAH), Marine Terminals & Port Storage (Jetties, Docking, Bunkering Interfaces) (EUALAEAG), Liquid Bulk Petroleum Terminals (Crude, Refined Products) (TLAHABAH)

Keywords

• Liquid bulk storage
• Multimodal logistics terminals
• Fuel distribution services
• Chemical logistics solutions
• Biofuel storage terminals

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Storage and Terminal Operations: Revenue generated from providing liquid bulk storage services at Ultracargo's terminal network. Terminals charge clients for storing fuels, chemicals, biofuels, and vegetable oils in their facilities, with pricing subject to ANTAQ maximum price tables.
2. Logistics Throughput Services: Revenue from handling, loading, and unloading operations as products move through Ultracargo's multimodal terminal network via road, rail, waterway, and pipeline.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Ultracargo operates Brazil's largest independent liquid bulk storage terminal network, providing integrated multimodal logistics solutions (road, rail, waterway, and pipeline) for fuels, chemicals, petrochemicals, biofuels, and vegetable oils. The company manages 9 port and inland terminals with over 1 million cubic meters of static storage capacity, connecting Brazil's agricultural interior to coastal export ports.

Product overview

Ultracargo is Brazil's largest independent liquid bulk storage company, offering integrated logistics solutions across a network of terminals in strategic port and inland locations. The portfolio includes 9 operational terminals (Aratu, Itaqui, Santos, Suape, Vila do Conde, Rio de Janeiro, Palmeirante, Paulínia, and Rondonópolis) plus the Opla joint venture, with over 1 million m³ of total storage capacity. The company provides multimodal logistics connecting road, rail, waterway, and pipeline transport for handling fuels, chemicals, petrochemicals, biofuels, and vegetable oils. Key technology offerings include Ultracapex (project feasibility analysis tool) and robotized tank inspection systems. The operation is structured around port terminals (coastal) and inland terminals (interior), connected through railway bypasses and multimodal corridors to serve the agribusiness, energy, and chemical sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Liquid Bulk Storage Terminals Independent liquid bulk storage terminals handling fuels, chemicals, petrochemicals, biofuels, and vegetable oils across strategic Brazilian port and inland locations, with over 1 million cubic meters of total static storage capacity.
• Multimodal Logistics Solutions Integrated logistics services connecting road, rail, waterway, and pipeline transportation modes to optimize the movement of liquid bulk products across Brazil's territory.
• Chemical Sector Solutions Specialized logistics solutions for the chemical sector, including dedicated storage and handling of chemical and petrochemical products across Ultracargo's terminal network.
• Itaqui Terminal Port terminal in Itaqui (MA), part of the Arco Norte logistics corridor, handling liquid bulk products with current capacity of 155,000 m³ expanding to 234,000 m³, connected to the railway network.
• Santos Terminal Port terminal in Santos (SP), located in the largest port in Latin America, handling liquid bulk products with ongoing pier expansion.
• Vila do Conde Terminal Port terminal in Vila do Conde (PA) with 120,000 m³ capacity focused on fuels and capable of receiving large ships and barges for North Arch operations, featuring direct Ship-To-Barge transfer capability.
• Aratu Terminal Port terminal in Aratu (BA) handling liquid bulk products as part of the Aratu-Candeias complex, including biofuel export operations.
• Suape Terminal Port terminal in Suape (PE) serving the Northeast region of Brazil, featuring bunker operations and skid system technology that reduces fuel unloading time by 33%.
• Rio de Janeiro Terminal Port terminal in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) handling liquid bulk products including fuels and chemicals.
• Palmeirante Terminal Inland terminal in Palmeirante (TO) with 23,000 m³ capacity, connected via railway to Itaqui (MA), facilitating logistics to interior states of Maranhão, Tocantins, Pará, and Mato Grosso.
• Paulínia Terminal Inland ethanol terminal in Paulínia (SP) with 50% ownership through the Opla joint venture with BP, handling ethanol and biofuels.
• Rondonópolis Terminal Inland terminal in Rondonópolis (MT) supporting the agribusiness corridor in Centro-Oeste Brazil with railway connections.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33% reduction in ship-to-barge transfer operation time using pier line method
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• InpasacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Joint operation for first biofuels export via Port of Aratu to European market, in partnership with PBio.
• PBiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Joint operation for first biofuels export via Port of Aratu to European market, in partnership with Inpasa.
• Instituto Combustível LegalminorOthers · 20 September 2024Ultracargo became the first logistics infrastructure company to join the institute, reinforcing commitment to ethical fuel and biofuel commercialization, quality assurance, and competitive governance standards.
• DislubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 August 2024Partnership for bunkering (marine fuel) operations at Porto de Suape. Dislub operates from Ultracargo's facility with 40,000 m³ of storage capacity across four tanks, supplying marine diesel to vessels at the PGL 1 pier.
• Granel and Vopak (Santos Railway Siding)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2024Public-private partnership for construction of 2.7 km railway siding at Santos port terminal. The project includes social investments of R$85 million for community facilities (hospital, school, sports court).
• bp (joint venture Opla)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 July 2023Ultracargo acquired 50% of Opla terminal operations from Copersucar, forming a joint venture with bp. The ethanol terminal in Paulínia (SP) operates under this partnership.
• Universidade de São Paulo (USP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 March 2023Partnership with the Department of Mining and Petroleum Engineering at USP's Polytechnic School for the Operational Risk Management Project focused on safety. The collaboration includes regular meetings, training, and actions to continuously improve operational and safety procedures.
• VLI (Vale Logistica Integrada)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRailway network connection partnership. Palmeirante terminal connects to Itaqui port via VLI rail network, enabling efficient biofuels and fuel logistics to interior states.
• MoveInframinorOthersActive participation in MoveInfra annual infrastructure events, contributing to discussions on financing and development of Brazil's logistics infrastructure.
• Instituto UltraminorOthersSocial investment arm of Grupo Ultra, implementing community development programs including education initiatives supported by Ultracargo.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Dislub Equador: Brazilian fuel and marine bunker operator that runs 40,000 m³ of bunkering operations from Ultracargo's Suape terminal. A direct channel partner and bunker customer that reflects the bunker storage segment of Ultracargo's business.
• Ipiranga: Largest Brazilian fuel distributor and a sibling Ultrapar subsidiary. Adjacent rather than competing: Ipiranga's fuel distribution volumes feed demand for Ultracargo's storage, illustrating intra-portfolio complementarity within Grupo Ultra.

Broad incumbents

• Transpetro: Petrobras subsidiary operating pipelines, terminals, and the Brazilian multimodal liquid logistics backbone. Although integrated rather than independent, it competes for many of the same fuel and chemical logistics customers served by Ultracargo's terminal network.
• Stolthaven Terminals: Terminals division of Stolt-Nielsen providing global independent storage for chemicals, clean petroleum products, and specialty liquids. Functions as a global independent terminal peer to Ultracargo with overlapping product mix (chemicals, fuels, agribulk).
• Oiltanking: German-based subsidiary of Marquard & Bahls operating one of the world's largest independent networks of tank terminals for petroleum, chemicals, and gases. Comparable global footprint and business model to Ultracargo's independent liquid bulk terminal operations in Brazil.

Direct peers

• Vopak: Royal Vopak is the world's largest independent tank storage operator for liquid bulk chemicals, oils, gases, and biofuels across a global terminal network. The closest functional analogue to Ultracargo, which serves as Vopak's Brazilian counterpart for chemicals and fuels and is even partnering with Vopak on the Santos rail siding.
• Cattalini Terminais Marítimos: Cattalini operates independent liquid bulk terminals at Paranaguá (Paraná) and Pecém (Ceará), handling vegetable oils, chemicals, and fuels. A direct Brazilian competitor serving overlapping chemicals, fuels and agribusiness customers.
• Granel Química: Brazilian privately-held liquid bulk chemical terminal operator active at Paranaguá and other Brazilian ports. Directly overlaps with Ultracargo in chemical and petrochemical storage and is co-partnering with Ultracargo on the Santos railway siding project.

Emerging players

• Puma Energy: Global mid- and down-stream energy company with significant Brazilian storage and distribution assets for fuels and biofuels. Emerging competitor for fuel and biofuel storage logistics in Brazil, with overlapping customer base to Ultracargo.

Regional players

• Hidrovias do Brasil: Brazilian waterway logistics operator part of the same Grupo Ultra conglomerate, focused on inland waterway transport of grains and liquid bulks via the Tietê-Paraná and Paraguay river systems. Comparable in market, geography, and parent ownership to Ultracargo and recently led by Ultracargo's former CEO.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ultracargo9980
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Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ultracargo