Brazilian port cargo edged up in Q1

In the first quarter, Brazilian ports handled 280Mt of cargo, up 1.64% year-on-year, and 105Mt in March, up 8.26%, even though the government put concessions and privatizations on hold.

“The positive highlight in the quarter in terms of goods was iron ore, which, over this period, involved 75.8Mt, representing an increase of 1.48% compared to 2022,” with crude oil representing 48.9Mt, up 11.11%, according to waterways regulator Antaq. 

As the country’s trade surplus is expected to reach record levels this year, the port is also set to perform well.

But privatizations remain a hot issue. The previous government privatized operators and stepped up concession auctions. 

However, ports and airports minister Márcio França said in a statement that it is important to maintain public port authorities, as a way of guaranteeing transparency and efficiency in the management of Brazilian ports, and the application of profits from operations to improvements in the sector.

São Paulo's governor Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas, who served as infrastructure minister in the previous administration, wants to advance the privatization of SPA, the operator of Santos port.

Gomes de Freitas has been in talks with several ministers and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. A person close to the matter, requesting anonymity, told BNamericas that the state will keep pushing.