Antaq creates task force to assess cabotage services for rice transportation across Brazil

The National Waterway Transportation Agency (ANTAQ) greenlit the formation of a task force on Thursday (07) to conduct an assessment of coastal shipping conditions for the distribution of Brazilian rice.

The initiative stemmed from a complaint filed by the Brazilian Rice Industry Association (Abiarroz), which, although dismissed, raised concerns about the recurrent lack of adequate cabotage transport services for Brazilian rice producers based in the country’s south.

In his voting statement, Agency General Director Eduardo Nery emphasized that “from a perspective that stems from development strategy and food security for the country, the issue is relevant as rice is a staple product of the Brazilian food basket. Thus, an efficient sector has positive economic implications, impacting, for example, inflation rates.”

Ultimately, this survey will serve as a basis for identifying measures that could assist in planning public policies aimed at expanding the installed capacity of port infrastructure or providing maritime transport services.

Once established, the task force will present a plan within 30 days to the rapporteur of the process that prompted the creation of this survey for subsequent approval by the board of directors.

The task force includes representatives from ANTAQ’s Regulatory, Authorization, and Inspection Superintendencies, the Agency’s Regional Units Coordination, representatives from the Ministry of Ports and Airports, and the Logistics Transport Chamber of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa).

Moreover, Abiarroz, maritime transporters, public and private terminals, and port authorities will also be called in to submit contributions.

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