Shipping

Imports of vessels for navigation off the Brazilian coast now have zero tariff

Nov, 08, 2019 Posted by Sylvia Schandert

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This Wednesday (11/07), the Chamber of Foreign Trade (Camex) approved the reduction of the rate of Import Tax levied on vessels for the transport of goods from 14% to 0%. With this, companies that import ships will have a reduction of about 40% in the tax burden for the acquisition of foreign vessels. The measure aims to encourage cabotage in the country and is a reflection of discussions of the BR do Mar program, which will be launched soon by the Ministry of Infrastructure.

“The initiative will develop maritime transportation, boost private investments in the constitution of the fleet in Brazil, reduce the entry barrier for new players, expand the supply of maritime transportation off the Brazilian coast, reduce national logistics costs, and optimize the use of public resources for infrastructure investments,” assesses the National Secretary of Ports and Waterways Transportation of the portfolio, Diogo Piloni.

Among the vessels benefiting from the proposal are, above all, container ships. Currently, 17 such vessels operate in Brazil, and 11 new vessels were incorporated into the Brazilian fleet, only between 2008 and 2015. Of these, nine were imported. The numbers show that the market has increased the demand for the provision of cabotage transportation services.

Cabotage

The cabotage market has registered significant numbers in recent years. According to data from the National Agency for Water Transport (ANTAQ), between 2016 and 2017, maritime transport along the Brazilian coast grew 3.8% in terms of tons transported. Container transportation alone grew by 12%.

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