The Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, said this Wednesday (22), in São Paulo, that the concession model adopted for the Port of Paranaguá channel should inspire future port concessions from the federal government. Among the ports that can adopt this new concession model are Santos (SP), Itajaí (SC) and Salvador (BA).
“Our idea is that, by April 30th of next year, we can do [o leilão de] at least these three channels”, the minister told journalists. “The process is already progressing at Antaq [Agência Nacional de Transportes Aquaviários]. The one in Itajaí, for example, is already in the TCU [Tribunal de Contas da União]. Our goal is that, alongside Antaq, the court of accounts and state governments, we can, in the first half of 2026, have these access channels ready and with the auction [realizado]. We are talking about investments of more than R$8 billion”, added Costa Filho.
This Tuesday, the Canal Galheta Dragagem Consortium (CCGD) won the auction for the concession of the access channel to the Port of Paranaguá (PR)held at B3 headquarters, the São Paulo Stock Exchange. The concession of waterway access to the Port of Paranaguá (PR), carried out by the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq), represents an unprecedented milestone for the national port sector, as it is the first Brazilian access channel to be auctioned. The concession is for a period of 25 years.
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According to the government of Paraná, This auction is an unprecedented initiative in Brazil, as it is the first port access channel to be leased in the country. Furthermore, this project is innovative, as the responsibility for dredging, which currently belongs to the public port, will now fall to the lessee, that is, the concessionaire that takes on the contract will also be responsible for expanding the depth of the channel.
“It is the first time in the country’s history that we are holding an access channel auction. This gives predictability to the productive sector, this provides legal certainty, but, above all, it strengthens port operations at the Port of Paranaguá, which is one of the largest ports in Brazil and South America today”, highlighted the minister.
The winning company offered a 12.63% discount on the reference rate for the auction (which was the maximum value stipulated) and, after a live competition involving 18 bids and which considered the highest award value, it won the auction with an offer of R$276 million, beating three other competitors.[queeraovalormáximoestipulado)edepoisdeumadisputaemviva-voz em18lances equeconsiderouomaiorvalordeoutorgaelasaiuvencedoradoleilãocomaofertadeR$276milhõesbatendooutrastrêsconcorrentes
The bidding envisaged a hybrid model, which included competition for the highest grant (fixed amount paid to the government) and the lowest tariff to be charged to users.
For the governor of Paraná, Ratinho Júnior, who was also at B3 this Wednesday afternoon, the result of the auction was a success.
“We launched the first port channel concession in Brazil, in fact, which kickstarts the innovation of a new model,” said the governor. “We had a reduction of almost 12.7% in discount to the current tariff, which means an advantage for those who use the Port of Paranaguá to export their merchandise. This even makes shipping cheaper. Furthermore, the grant, which was a giant grant, worth almost R$300 million, demonstrates the importance of this project”, he highlighted.
