Brazilian Northern Arc to gain new logistcs corridor on Tocantins River

Brazilian Northern Arc ports are set to gain a new waterway in the Amazon region starting in 2025, with the launch of commercial and passenger navigation along the Tocantins River. This development follows the issuance of operating licenses for the Tucuruí locks by the Pará State Government through the Secretariat for Environment and Sustainability (SEMAS). The licenses will enable navigation along the Tocantins River between its mouth and Marabá (PA).

According to Flávio Acatauassú, President of the Association of Port Terminals and Cargo Transshipment Stations of the Amazon Basin (AMPORT), this marks a historic milestone. “This will not only facilitate cargo transport but also provide a new transportation route for passengers in the lower Tocantins region. We’re thrilled by this development, which will boost commercial navigation in the area while creating a vital link for communities living and working along the Tocantins River,” Acatauassú stated.

Acatauassú noted that several companies have already expressed interest in utilizing the Tocantins River logistics corridor. They aim to transport grains from Mato Grosso and Tocantins during the river’s high-water season, which runs from January to June. Even without planned dredging and rock removal interventions, these shipments would follow the route from Marabá to Vila do Conde. “We expect significant grain activity in this corridor in the first half of 2025, with soybeans leading the way,” he added.

The port of Vila do Conde is gaining prominence in Brazil’s container trade. Below is an overview of container exports and imports at the Vila do Conde Port between January 2021 and November 2024.

Vila do Conde | Exports & Imports | Jan 2021 – Nov 2024 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

The news further energizes the Northern Arc region, which has been steadily expanding over the past decade and currently boasts an installed capacity of 52 million tonnes. “We’re on track to reach a capacity of approximately 100 million tonnes within the next five years. This underscores the efficiency of Amazon region ports, which invest heavily in innovation and sustainability,” Acatauassú concluded.

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