Petrobras has signed a new contract to supply natural gas to Portobello, a major industrial player and the largest gas consumer in Santa Catarina. This agreement marks Petrobras’ entry into the ceramics sector and strengthens its role in the state’s free natural gas market.

The deal reflects Petrobras’ strategy to diversify its customer base and expand into new sectors of Brazil’s industrial economy. By partnering with Portobello, the company underscores its commitment to offering competitive energy solutions tailored to the unique needs of large-scale industrial clients.

“We are actively working to grow and consolidate our portfolio in the free natural gas market,” said Álvaro Tupiassu, executive manager of Gas and Energy at Petrobras. “The recent contracts we have signed, including this new agreement with Portobello, demonstrate that we are taking the right steps. Our focus is on delivering a robust and diversified range of gas products, with flexible contract models designed to offer the best commercial options for our partners.”

Petrobras is currently investing more than $7 billion in new infrastructure projects to support the expansion of natural gas supply throughout Brazil. These investments include storage facilities, pipelines and distribution networks that will help meet rising demand across various industrial sectors. In addition to infrastructure, Petrobras is offering multiple contract structures with customizable terms and price indexes, allowing clients to select the solutions that best fit their operational requirements.

For Portobello, the agreement represents a strategic move aimed at increasing the company’s energy efficiency and overall competitiveness. As one of Brazil’s leading ceramic manufacturers, Portobello places a strong emphasis on innovation, sustainability and operational performance. The new partnership supports those priorities by ensuring a stable and efficient energy supply.

“The ceramics industry’s competitiveness is directly linked to the efficiency of its energy use,” said Luciano Abrantes, CEO of the Portobello unit of the Portobello Group. “Our partnership with Petrobras provides us with secure access to natural gas and commercial conditions that support our production scale and long-term goals. This is an important step in maintaining our leadership in the market.”

Petrobras’ entry into the ceramics segment aligns with its broader strategy to become a key supplier across Brazil’s diverse industrial landscape. As companies seek to reduce energy costs and improve operational sustainability, Petrobras aims to provide reliable, flexible and economically viable natural gas solutions.

This collaboration between Petrobras and Portobello reinforces both companies’ long-term strategic objectives, particularly in promoting energy efficiency, industrial competitiveness and market leadership. It also highlights the growing importance of natural gas as a critical component in Brazil’s industrial energy matrix.