Brazil is on the verge of launching a new public concession model in the port sector: the concession for the dredging of access channels to public ports. The pilot project will be implemented in the port complex of Paranaguá and Antonina, located in the State of Paraná, in the southern region of the country.
This is a strategic asset. Paranaguá is Brazil’s leading port for soybean exports—including grains, meal, and oil—and accounts for approximately 33% of all fertilizer imports into the country, a critical input for Brazilian agribusiness.
The concession will have a 25-year term, with an estimated capital expenditure (capex) of around USD 220 million. The model entails granting responsibility for maintenance dredging of the maritime access channels, with minimum depth levels (contractual bathymetry), performance parameters, and nautical availability targets to be detailed in the concession agreement.
The structure provides that, in the case of consortia, the company with proven dredging expertise must hold a minimum stake of 15%. This requirement is intended to ensure technical capacity and mitigate operational risks throughout the concession term.
The bidding process will be conducted under a competitive regime, with publication of the tender notice expected in July 2025 and the auction anticipated to take place in September of the same year. Market sources have already reported the interest of major international players, such as the Dutch company Van Oord and the Belgian company Jan de Nul, underscoring the expected level of competition.
Although the timeline for publication and bidding may be tight for structured decision-making processes within foreign corporations, we strongly recommend that interested parties begin reviewing the technical and legal content of the upcoming tender documents, including the draft contract, as a strategic positioning move for this and other upcoming projects. The model is expected to be replicated in other key hubs, such as the Port of Santos—the largest port in Latin America.
This represents a clear institutional shift toward the privatization of dredging services and the attraction of specialized operators, with a focus on performance, cost predictability, and navigation safety. It is a strategic window of opportunity for entry and consolidation of dredging operators in the Brazilian market under a new contractual framework, with clear rules, long-term horizon, and potential returns linked to operational targets.