The Federal Government anticipates holding 34 new port auctions, with investments that could reach R$23 billion in the coming years. The project portfolio was presented by the Minister of Ports and Airports, Tomé Franca, this Tuesday (27), during the opening of the XIII Meeting of the Association of Private Port Terminals (ATP) in Brasília. With the theme "Brazil for the next 4 years," the event gathered sector representatives to discuss economic challenges, infrastructure, and national logistical competitiveness.
"There is no strong infrastructure without strong institutions. There is no long-term investment without legal certainty. And there is no sustainable development without dialogue, planning, and trust," said the minister.
Since 2023, 29 port auctions have been held, attracting investments exceeding R$15 billion. Another 70 Private Use Terminal (TUP) projects are under analysis, with the potential to mobilize R$33 billion. For December, three new auctions are planned in the Northeast, at the ports of Fortaleza (CE), Itaqui (MA), and Salvador (BA).
Thairyne Oliveira, Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor), highlighted the social benefits of the investments. "Modern infrastructure only has value when it translates into opportunity, security, and well-being for every Brazilian citizen, whether in large metropolises or in the most isolated regions of our country," she stated.
Murillo Barbosa, CEO of ATP, also emphasized the importance of stability for the sector's growth. "We advocate for integrated planning, legal certainty, regulatory predictability, and efficient public processes. These conditions instill confidence in investors and allow projects to convert into capacity, jobs, and development," he affirmed.
Composing the opening panel, Frederico Carvalho Dias, Director-General of the National Waterway Transportation Agency (Antaq), highlighted the role of regulation in attracting private capital. "The role of regulation is also very much this: to provide legal certainty, design the best rules, and also convey a lot of credibility and confidence for the private sector to play its role, which is to invest."
Planning and Logistics Integration
Among the priorities presented by MPor are the National Logistics Plan 2050, the new Sectoral Port Plan, and Port Saturation Monitoring, a tool designed to anticipate bottlenecks and guide investments. Projects such as Tecon Santos 10 and the Santos–Guarujá Tunnel were also highlighted.
"We want private investment. But we want private investment with good projects, balanced contracts, competition, transparency, and legal certainty," reinforced Tomé Franca.
Otto Luiz Burlier da Silveira Filho, National Secretary of Waterways and Navigation, advocated for strengthening private partnerships to expand investments and improve waterway transport services. "We need to unite here. I think it is our challenge to continue investing our public resources as best as possible, but to take an effective step in private partnerships," he stressed.
Promoted by ATP, the meeting discussed economic perspectives, regulatory security, and infrastructure development. The association currently represents 41 companies and 78 Private Use Terminals in the country.
