Brazil's CNT: Country Uses Less Than Half of Its Planned Waterway Network

A study by Brazil's National Confederation of Transport (CNT), conducted by Pezco Economics, revealed that the country economically utilizes less than half of the navigable waterway network planned for cargo transport. According to Agência iNFRA, Brazil uses around 20,000 kilometers of the roughly 41,000 kilometers covered by the National Transportation Plan (PNV), while Transporte Moderno and Jornal Portuario specify that the figure equals 49%, with 20,400 kilometers effectively used out of the 41,700 kilometers planned.

The survey identified fragmented governance, regulatory uncertainty, infrastructure shortfalls, and financing difficulties limiting the expansion of this transport mode as the main obstacles. Vander Costa, president of Sistema Transporte, stated that unlocking this potential requires planning, adequate infrastructure, and regulatory security in order to better integrate the transport system and improve the competitiveness of Brazil's economy.

Despite these limitations, inland cargo navigation showed strong growth: according to data from the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq) cited in the study, 91.3 million tonnes were moved in 2025, a 19.7% increase compared to 2024. When adding cabotage carried out via inland waterways, total volume reached nearly 116 million tonnes.

The study proposes a short, medium, and long-term agenda extending to 2046, organized around six pillars: strategic vision for waterways, governance and regulatory security, infrastructure, workforce and training, safety, and financing. Among the suggested measures are the creation of a national body to coordinate waterway policy, the development of a Waterway Sector Plan, strengthening dredging operations, continuity of the Lock Operation and Maintenance Program (Proeclusas), as well as planning interventions by logistics corridors and improving financing mechanisms.

The report also warns of operational vulnerability to fluctuations in river levels. The droughts recorded in the Amazon in 2023 and 2024 left around 90% of vessels on the Amazon River facing navigation restrictions, and in the corridor between Porto Velho (RO) and Itacoatiara (AM), travel time rose from eight to 20 days, with a 60% reduction in transport capacity and freight cost increases of up to 150%. Fuel supply was disrupted in 23 municipalities in the state of Amazonas.

In the passenger segment, the study found a lack of structured data, informality, insufficient infrastructure, and financing difficulties, even though inland navigation carries 21.2 million passengers per year and is the only transport mode available in 49 municipalities. Meanwhile, in August 2026 Antaq published six resolutions reorganizing the rules for inland navigation, including authorizations, vessel chartering, and equipment exchange between carriers—rules that will replace 11 other regulations and take effect on February 13, 2027.