Brasília, 26/10/2026 - The National Waterway Transportation Agency (ANTAQ) published, this Friday (23), in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU), the tender notice for the MUC04 terminal, located in the Organized Port of Fortaleza (CE). Approved during the 621st Ordinary Board Meeting, held on Thursday (22), the undertaking marks the resumption of auctions for areas specifically intended for container handling in Brazil, after more than a decade.
Since the promulgation of the Ports Law in 2013, more than 70 port lease auctions have been held in the country, but none of them exclusively for container terminals. MUC04 is the first in a series of strategic projects aimed at expanding the operational capacity of Brazilian ports and meeting the growing demand for containerized cargo handling.
In 2025, Brazil handled approximately 15.3 million TEUs, a volume 10% higher than that recorded in the previous year. This growth reinforces the importance of expanding port infrastructure to keep up with the evolution of demand and increase the capacity to serve foreign trade and cabotage operations.
"The publication of this tender notice represents an important milestone for the port sector, by enabling the first auction of a container terminal since the 2013 Ports Law. The undertaking meets the need to expand infrastructure supply, especially in the Northeast, and reinforces the importance of technical decisions that guarantee legal certainty, regulatory stability, and investor confidence," highlighted director Wilson Lima Filho, rapporteur of the process.
Investments and operational capacity
With an area of approximately 148,000 square meters, MUC04 will have the capacity to handle around 400,000 TEUs per year. The project foresees investments of R$ 429 million over the 25 years of the lease, with an estimated contract value of R$ 5.5 billion.
The infrastructure will feature two berths and at least three mobile harbor cranes (MHC), in addition to facilities for storing refrigerated containers, important for the outflow of products such as fruits, which are part of Ceará's export agenda.
Model development was carried out by Infra S.A., based on technical, economic, and environmental feasibility studies. In September, the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) concluded its analysis of the project, allowing the bidding process to proceed after the incorporation of adjustments determined by the Court.
New container terminals
In addition to MUC04, three other container terminal lease projects are in different stages of structuring: Tecon 10, in the Port of Santos (SP), with a projected capacity of 3.25 million TEUs per year; SSB01, in the Port of São Sebastião (SP), with 1.35 million TEUs; and ITJ01, in the Port of Itajaí (SC), with 1.5 million TEUs annually.
Considered together, the four ventures represent a projected additional capacity of approximately 6.5 million TEUs per year, a volume equivalent to more than 40% of the national movement recorded in 2025. The projects seek to expand the supply of container infrastructure, improve operational conditions, and keep pace with the growth of waterway cargo transport.
Auction in December
The MUC04 auction is scheduled for December 9, 2026, at B3, in São Paulo, and will have the highest grant value as the judgment criterion.
On the same date, the bidding for the IQI16 terminal, located in the Port of Itaqui, in Maranhão, whose tender notice was published on October 13, is also planned. The area is intended for the handling and storage of solid mineral bulk, especially fertilizers and inputs.
The MUC04 tender notice, the draft contract, and other technical documents are available for consultation on the ANTAQ portal.
