Port of Santos Access Channel Could Be Leased in 1Q26

The access channel of the Port of Santos is set to be leased to the private sector, with the concession expected to happen in the first quarter of 2026. The 35-year concession contract involves an estimated investment of BRL 7 billion. This information is detailed in the initial draft of the concession modeling project, submitted by the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) to the Santos Port Authority (APS) for review and adjustments.

The concession study was prepared by the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) and delivered to the ministry in December 2024, following a request made in April of the same year. According to an official statement from BNDES, the goal of the concession is to secure a long-term private partner to carry out deepening dredging, channel maintenance, and waterway signaling activities for the Port of Santos.

Accelerated Timeline

Alex Sandro de Ávila, the National Secretary for Ports and Waterway Transportation, outlined the project timeline and explained that the process had been expedited for early 2026. “Minister Silvio Costa Filho is demanding agility, and we are working to meet the deadlines responsibly, without skipping any steps,” Ávila said in an interview with A Tribuna.

Currently, the project is under review by MPor and APS, with the revised version expected to be sent back to BNDES by the end of January. BNDES is scheduled to return the adjusted version by the end of February, enabling the National Secretariat for Ports to approve the second version and submit it to the National Waterway Transportation Agency (Antaq) for analysis during the first week of March.

Expected Impacts

With substantial investment and private sector participation, the concession of the Port of Santos access channel is expected to enhance logistical efficiency and the competitiveness of Latin America’s largest port. Modernizing dredging and signaling operations will be critical to meeting the growing international trade demand and ensuring navigational safety in the channel.

The Port of Santos is already one of the most bustling ports in Latin America, and it may greatly benefit from projects such as granting the access channel to private operators. The following chart uses DataLiner data to provide a general overview of container exports and imports registered at the Port of Santos between January 2021 and November 2024.

Expors and Impors at Port of Santos | Jan 2021 – Nov 2024 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

This project represents a milestone in strengthening Brazil’s port infrastructure, aligning private investments with the sustainable development strategy of the waterway transportation sector.

Source: A Tribuna

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