Intermodal South America, the leading event for logistics, freight transport, intralogistics, and foreign trade, hosted a debate in São Paulo featuring key industry leaders. Participants included Eduardo Nery, Director-General of the National Waterway Transport Agency (ANTAQ), Rafael Vitale, Director-General of the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), and Ricardo Molitzas, President of the Brazilian Logistics Institute (IBL). The discussion focused on ongoing investments in transportation infrastructure and their strategic implications.
National Investment Panorama
Eduardo Nery detailed the current state of auctions and concessions for port areas in Brazil. By the end of 2024, nine areas are set to be auctioned, with another 19 planned for 2025, including the Port of Paranaguá concession, pending approval by the Federal Court of Accounts. “This represents over R$1 billion in investments and R$2.5 billion in operational expenses. Another highlight is the partial concession of the Port of Itajaí, which includes its waterway access,” Nery stated.
He also pointed to significant investments in Mucuripe Container Terminal in Ceará, which exemplifies a successful transitional contract framework. These contracts ensure continuity in cargo handling while licensing processes conclude. “We estimate nearly R$13 billion in investments across 2024 and 2025, excluding TUPs (private use terminals), which remain vital components of this model,” he added.
On TUPs, which handle two-thirds of the cargo in national ports, Nery emphasized ongoing simplifications in authorization processes and the prioritization of hydrographic concessions.
Collaboration Between ANTT and ANTAQ
Rafael Vitale highlighted the challenges of port access and the need for inter-agency coordination. He cited the FIPS (Internal Railway at the Port of Santos), a partnership between railway operators Rumo, MRS, and VLI, as a successful example. “While managed by ANTAQ, we support and monitor investment oversight,” he said.
Vitale also mentioned the transformation of liquid bulk logistics through new rail connections, expected to revolutionize fuel transportation within two years, driving a shift from road to rail. On road concessions, he revealed plans to expand from 15,000 km to 20,000 km, with 10 new auctions planned for 2025, following a record seven auctions in 2024.
Port Access Challenges
IBL’s Ricardo Molitzas addressed the pressing issue of port access bottlenecks, noting that ports handle 30% of Brazil’s cargo. He warned that delays in crucial access improvements jeopardize the efforts of regulatory agencies.
Molitzas raised concerns about the Port of Santos, projecting that its growth will exceed long-term capacity expectations by 2023, well ahead of its 2040 forecast. He also criticized Brazil’s complex tax and regulatory frameworks, citing outdated multimodal transport legislation and fragmented ICMS taxes as significant barriers to progress.
Looking Ahead to Intermodal 2025
The debate served as a preview of the content and discussions expected at Intermodal South America 2025, which will take place from April 22 to 24 at Distrito Anhembi, São Paulo.
Fernando D’Ascola, Show Manager for Intermodal South America, revealed a 16% growth in exhibitors and event space compared to 2024, with expectations to reach 20%. “Distrito Anhembi offers state-of-the-art infrastructure and growth potential for future editions,” he said.
Hermano Pinto Jr., Portfolio Director for Informa Markets’ Infrastructure Sector, emphasized the significance of the venue. “Distrito Anhembi is an architectural icon of São Paulo, and hosting Intermodal here has proven to be a strategic move. This gathering gives participants a glimpse of what to expect from Latin America’s leading logistics platform,” he concluded.
