Araquari, a neighboring city to industrial hubs like Joinville and the ports of São Francisco do Sul and Itajaí on the Santa Catarina coast, is on the radar of major international investors. Recently, a Chinese delegation visited the region to negotiate a billion-dollar project that includes a multimodal complex with a private airport, hotels, and a large logistics center, valued at $13 billion. With the advancement of ventures like this, combined with the presence of important industries such as BMW, the expectation is that the local logistics market will continue to expand rapidly, according to Sort Investimentos. The company, which specializes in warehouse and logistics condominium negotiations, emphasizes that the sector is booming in Brazil, driven by e-commerce, which has increased the demand for storage and distribution spaces.
Expansion of the logistics market and economic impacts
In recent years, the logistics warehouse sector has experienced significant growth in Brazil. According to the Brazilian Logistics Association (ABRALOG), the demand for storage space increased by 30% in two years, mainly driven by the rise in online sales. This movement has been even more intense on the northern coast of Santa Catarina, where the demand for logistics areas has almost doubled compared to the national average.
A Sort Investimentos emphasizes that Araquari is among the highlights of the sector, with over R$ 70 million in deals recently completed. "The e-commerce boom has created an urgent need for logistics infrastructure, which has driven the search for warehouses for storage and distribution," says Renato Monteiro, CEO of Sort Investments.
Araquari's strategic location is one of the main factors explaining investors' interest. Near major economic hubs such as Joinville and Itajaí, and with easy access to the ports of São Francisco do Sul and Itajaí, the city has established itself as a strategic point for logistics operations.
“Araquari and other nearby cities, such as Itajaí, Navegantes and Garuva, have over R$3.5 billion in logistics assets under our advisory board. However, only 10% of these areas are still available for negotiation, which shows the fast pace of investments. In places like Araquari, the price per square meter can appreciate by over 30% per year, which justifies the rush of investors to these opportunities,” Monteiro highlights.
