Paranaguá Port Channel to Receive BRL 1 Billion from FMM and Serve as Model for Santos

The bidding for the concession of the access channel to the Port of Paranaguá, in Paraná, scheduled to take place in August at the São Paulo Stock Exchange (B3), gained a new incentive this Thursday (3). The Board of Directors of the Merchant Marine Fund (CDFMM) approved a project that earmarks BRL 1.089 billion from the FMM for the investments required for the concession.

For Alex Ávila, the National Secretary of Ports, who requested the prioritization of resources for the Paranaguá Port access channel, the project’s approval is expected to attract participants. “We created a solution that encourages competition because potential investors can factor in, even before the auction, that they will have access to special financing rates and conditions if they win the bid,” he said.

It will be up to the future concessionaire to decide whether or not to use the available FMM resources. To do so, it will only be necessary to resubmit the request to the Board of Directors with the project that will be executed and the detailed budget.

Model
According to Alex Ávila, the concession of Paranaguá’s access channel — the first for a Brazilian port — will serve as a model for other auctions to be held later this year, such as those for the ports of Santos, Itajaí (Santa Catarina), and Bahia. “The concession of access channels provides predictability for the productive sector, especially along the development route of the Brazilian port sector,” he added.

Benefits
The concession will also bring greater efficiency to Paranaguá’s port operations. The channel depth will be increased from 13.5 meters to 15.5 meters, enhancing the port’s capacity to receive larger vessels and expand cargo throughput. Today, Paranaguá receives 2,600 ships per year, mainly carrying bulk commodities such as soybeans and animal protein.

Below is a historical overview of cargo throughput from Paranaguá Port. The chart was prepared using DataLiner data:

Cargo Throughput from Paranagua Port | Jan 2022 – May 2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Each additional centimeter in the access channel’s draft corresponds to an increase of 60 tons of cargo in the ship’s hold. “We will have a substantial gain, in addition to the scale increase that will come with a higher number of ships,” added the National Secretary of Ports.

Source: A Tribuna

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