In 2010, river transport represented just 8% of the total, while in 2022 and 2023, this share rose to 23% and 19%, respectively.
“Corn and soybean shipments through ports in the North already represent around a third of the volume exported by the country. This result is obtained from the development of the sector, driven by the 2013 Ports Law”, assesses the Superintendent of Operational Logistics at Conab, Thomé Guth. “It is worth highlighting that investments in infrastructure do not appear immediately, taking time to be noticed”, he adds.
The 2013 Ports Law played a crucial role in this growth, boosting investments and requests for new port facilities.
According to Infra SA, requests for authorization of private port facilities after the law’s enactment jumped from 3 in 2013 to 75 in 2014.
As of 2015, these requests per year increased by approximately 4 times compared to the period before the new legislation.
Currently, the country has 253 Private Use Terminals (TUPs) and 247 Public Terminals.
“We have a growth in logistics in the Amazon Rivers that reduces costs, improves revenue for the product and, above all, we cannot forget that it reduces truck time on the road, thus less product production [gases] that could affect the environment”, highlighted the director of the Department of Economic Analysis and Public Policies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Silvio Farnese.
Despite significant growth, the waterway sector still faces challenges in reaching its full potential. According to Thomé Guth, it is necessary to invest in improving waterways and building transshipment terminals to boost intermodality in the country. “When we look at the waterway mode, despite the increase in participation in grain transport, challenges still need to be overcome”, ponders the superintendent.
In addition to waterways, integration with other modes, such as railways and highways, is also essential to increase the competitiveness of Brazilian grains in the international market. “The North-South railway, for example, expands producers’ choices by opening a new logistics corridor and brings competitiveness when exporting their products, whether along the coast of the Southeast Region or the North of the country”, explains Guth.
