Paranaguá Port Grain Unloading System ‘Moegão’ Hits 18% Completion

The construction of the Moegão, an exclusive bulk rail unloading system at the Port of Paranaguá, has reached approximately 18% completion. The project, which will require an investment of approximately BRL 592 million, was surveyed on Friday (6) by Paraná Governor Carlos Massa Ratinho Junior, Minister of Ports and Airports Silvio Costa Filho, and Luiz Fernando Garcia, CEO of Portos do Paraná.

The new complex will feature rail hoppers, vertical transport systems (bucket elevators), horizontal conveyors (belt conveyors), transfer towers, terminal feeding towers, scales (rail and integrator), utility systems, and administrative and maintenance buildings.

“This project is progressing rapidly, and we aim to have it ready next year. It will boost cargo throughput at the Port of Paranaguá by 35%, creating jobs and propping the economy of Paraná and Brazil,” Governor Ratinho Junior stated.

“The Moegão is a groundbreaking R$600 million project fully funded by the port. It will centralize rail unloading operations, providing the efficiency we need. We aim to reach 20% completion by year-end and have the system operational by December next year,” said Garcia.

Construction efforts have so far focused on civil works to prepare the site for the installation of the equipment. Foundations have been laid, and the work has advanced on the towers’ concrete blocks, pillars, and beams.

Meanwhile, metallic galleries and conveyor systems are being manufactured offsite. Once the towers and gantries are ready, the next phase will involve assembling and hoisting these galleries at the Moegão site. These structures will house conveyor belts for transporting cargo.

Expanded Capacity — Covering nearly 600,000 square meters, the Moegão dumping system will feature three independent rail lines capable of simultaneously unloading up to 180 railcars. The total conveyor length is 3.8 kilometers, and each line will handle up to 2,000 tonnes of cargo per hour.

This will increase the port’s rail unloading capacity from 550 to 900 railcars daily—a 63% rise. Grains arriving by rail will be transported via conveyors to 11 interconnected terminals within the Eastern Export Corridor.

After touring the site, Minister Costa Filho highlighted the project’s transformative potential. “This level of investment will be pivotal for the port’s logistics and overall capacity,” he said.

He also commended the Port of Paranaguá for outperforming national growth averages. “While Brazil’s port sector is set to grow about 5% this year, Paranaguá is projected to grow by 7% to 8%, demonstrating its crucial role in driving the state and national economy,” he added.

According to Sandro Alex, Paraná’s Secretary of Infrastructure and Logistics, the Moegão is expected to reduce transportation costs by 30% while cutting CO2 emissions by 73%, significantly improving environmental sustainability.

“The project is advancing rapidly. Within a year, this R$500-million operation will deliver benefits to the community, including reducing rail-road intersections from 16 to five, lowering traffic disruptions, and supporting an increase in the export corridor’s capacity from 1,500 to 4,000 tonnes per hour,” Alex explained.

Community and Regional Impact — The Moegão will also improve local mobility by reducing the number of rail crossings in Paranaguá, thereby decreasing traffic interruptions and accident risks.

“This project will greatly enhance traffic flow, reducing the number of trucks in the city. Additionally, the municipality will build two overpasses to further ease movement for residents,” Paranaguá Mayor Marcelo Roque said.

Roque also highlighted other infrastructure improvements in the region supported by the state government, such as the construction of the second Valadares Bridge, the Guaratuba Bridge, and the revitalization of Matinhos’ waterfront.

Notable Attendees — The inspection was attended by National Ports Secretary Alex Sandro de Ávila, Invest Paraná President Eduardo Bekin, federal deputies Reinhold Stephanes Junior and Tião Medeiros, state deputy Flávia Francischini, Antonina Mayor José Paulo Vieira Azin, Pontal do Paraná Mayor Rudão Gimenes, and Rear Admiral Pablo Araujo Barbosa, commander of the 8th Naval District.

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