The decree signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in April, enacting the free trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, has opened a new chapter for Brazilian foreign trade. With the provisional entry into force of the measures provided for in the treaty, the importance of a more efficient and integrated logistics infrastructure also grows to increase the competitiveness of Brazilian products in the international market.
In this scenario, programs such as BR do Mar, from the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor), gain a strategic role by stimulating cabotage (navigation between Brazilian ports) and strengthening national logistics to meet the possible growth of Brazilian exports.
According to the Cabotage Utilization and BR do Mar Qualification Guide, cabotage currently accounts for about 12% of the Brazilian transport matrix, a share lower than that observed in major international economies (44% in Japan, 32% in the European Union, and 25% in China). The BR do Mar program seeks to increase this percentage, especially in the transport of containerized cargo, a segment associated with industrialized goods and higher added value.
An ApexBrasil study indicates that the Mercosur–European Union agreement could expand Brazil's presence in 543 immediate export opportunities. It is estimated that, in the first year of the agreement's validity alone, Brazil's exports to the European bloc could increase by up to US$1 billion.
To meet this new scenario, with markets increasingly demanding in terms of costs, sustainability, and logistical predictability, the integration between production, infrastructure, and transport will be a decisive factor in increasing Brazilian participation in global trade.
According to the Minister of Ports and Airports, Tomé Franca, strengthening national logistics is essential for the country to take advantage of the opportunities opened. "Brazil's competitiveness is directly linked to its ability to transport goods efficiently, predictably, and at a lower cost. The BR do Mar represents an important step forward to modernize our logistics matrix, strengthen integration between modes, and prepare the country for a scenario of export expansion," he stated.
Sustainability, efficiency, and cost reduction
With the expectation of export growth to Europe, Brazilian ports in regions geographically closer to the European continent (North and Northeast) may gain logistical relevance in Brazilian foreign trade. In this scenario, cabotage tends to play a strategic role in the redistribution of cargo between these different regions.
Industrialized products and containerized cargo, coming from the South, Southeast, and Central-West, for example, can be transported via cabotage to exporting ports in the North and Northeast, reducing dependence on road transport over long distances.
In addition to increasing logistical efficiency, the model contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as maritime transport can emit up to six times fewer pollutants than road transport to move the same cargo over long distances and has average costs up to 60% lower than road transport and 40% lower than rail transport, according to Infra S.A. estimates.
Program incentives
Among the incentive mechanisms provided for in the program's rules is the increased possibility of chartering foreign vessels for companies that use sustainable ships in their operations. In practice, the greater the use of vessels with less environmental impact, the greater the capacity for fleet expansion by Brazilian Shipping Companies (EBN).
For example, the model allows companies to increase the tonnage of their own fleet by up to 50% by chartering foreign vessels. This percentage can reach 100% when the vessels involved are sustainable and up to 300% in certain combinations between own fleet and chartered ships with more efficient environmental characteristics.
