📋 Tender Overview
Public ports in the South region (Parana, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul) recorded a 7.9% growth in cargo movement from January to August 2025. According to data from the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq), 85.3 million tons passed through terminals managed by federal port authorities in the period.
The positive performance was led by the Port of Paranagua (PR), which handled 43.9 million tons. Next, the Port of Rio Grande (RS), with 20.2 million, the Port of Sao Francisco do Sul (SC), with 12.1 million, and the Port of Imbituba (SC), with 4.8 million tons. The Port of Itajai (SC) closes the list of the top five, having handled 2.5 million tons in the period.
The Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, highlighted that the numbers reflect the federal governments focus on management efficiency. The growth of public ports in the South is the result of efficient management focused on competitiveness, aiming to strengthen the economy of the region and Brazil as a whole, stated the minister.
The highlight of the balance was the increase of 21.14% in the movement of cargo in containers (total of 19.9 million tons) and 15.46% in general cargo (total of 9 million tons) compared to 2024. The strong advance in these two modalities, which encompass a wide range of products, demonstrates the versatility and growing capacity of public ports to serve different and complex logistics chains.
Highlights of ports in the South region
The vocation for foreign trade of the regions ports was confirmed by the 7.19% increase in long-haul (international) shipping, which totaled 73.4 million tons, driving growth of 4.95% in exports (led by soybeans and corn) and 11.84% in imports (including fertilizers).
New investments
To further increase the regions efficiency, the Ministry of Ports and Airports held, this Wednesday (22), the auction for the concession of the waterway access channel to the Port of Paranagua, the first concession project of this type in the history of Brazil.
The estimated investment in the project is R1.2 billion, over the 25 years of the concession, aimed at managing and exploring the waterway access infrastructure, including channels and evolution basins. The consortium will be responsible for dredging and expanding the draft from the current 13.5 meters to 15.5 meters, which will allow access for large ships and expand the ports operational capacity, increasing cargo movement and production flow.
The initiative will bring more security, agility and allow the docking of larger ships, increasing the capacity and competitiveness of the port of Parana.
Special Social Communication AdvisoryMinistry of Ports and Airports
