Brazil’s Port of Itajaí clears BRL 180 mln debt under new federal management

The Port of Itajaí, located in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, officially entered a new phase on Wednesday (7) under federal management, with the formalization of transitional administration by CODEBA (Companhia das Docas do Estado da Bahia).

The milestone was marked during an institutional seminar that brought together federal and state authorities as well as port workers. The event presented a balance sheet of the first year since the port’s federalization and reaffirmed the commitment to maintaining operational continuity at one of southern Brazil’s key container and general cargo hubs.

Among those attending were National Ports Secretary Alex Ávila, representing Ports and Airports Minister Silvio Costa Filho; CODEBA CEO Antonio Gobbo; Port of Itajaí Superintendent João Paulo Tavares Bastos; federal lawmaker Ana Paula Lima; and Sebrae Nacional President Décio Lima.

During the ceremony, an agreement was signed between the Port of Itajaí Superintendence and CODEBA, providing legal certainty and operational stability while the process to create the future Santa Catarina Dock Company (Companhia Docas de Santa Catarina) moves forward.

Record revenue and debt settlement

A key highlight of the seminar was the presentation of results from the port’s first year under federal management. Superintendent João Paulo Tavares Bastos said the Port of Itajaí closed the period with record revenue of BRL 180 million and resumed continuous cargo and container throughput. The terminal also generated more than BRL 4.5 million in ISS (services tax) revenue for the municipality and cleared a BRL 108 million debt inherited from the previous administration.

The following chart shows the sum of container exports and imports recorded at the Port of Itajaí since 2024. The data comes from DataLiner.

Port Itajaí: Exports & Imports | Jan 2024 – Nov 2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

“Exactly one year ago, the Port of Itajaí was facing one of the most delicate moments in its history. The federalization led by President Lula’s government was not merely an administrative move, but a strategic decision to save the port, protect jobs and restore the city’s main economic engine,” Bastos said.

Federal lawmaker Ana Paula Lima emphasized that the delivery of new equipment to the Port Guard and the formalization of the transitional management symbolize care for workers and the strengthening of a strategic national asset.

“Federalization restored predictability, investment and dignity to the port, which has once again become a driver of jobs, income and development for Itajaí, Santa Catarina and Brazil,” she said.

CODEBA CEO Antonio Gobbo announced investments in dredging, infrastructure upgrades and technological modernization. “A port is not built on investments alone, but on people. That is why we thank the CODEBA teams and the Port of Itajaí staff, who are working to ensure this transitional management is efficient,” he concluded.

Source: ND Mais

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