ANTAQ and Port Terminal Associations Discuss Pricing Regulations

Resolution nº31/2019, which regulates the information supplied by terminals to the Port Price Monitoring System – APP, of the National Water Transportation Agency (ANTAQ), was the subject of a meeting in late May between the agency and representatives of the port terminal associations.

The tool, which makes the average prices charged at port terminals throughout the country to be known, will integrate the Port Performance Indicator System – SDP, with the Agency´s statistical data.

At the meeting, the Brazilian Association of Port Terminals (ABTP), the Brazilian Public-Use Containers Terminals Association (Abratec), the Association of Private Port Terminals (ATP), the Brazilian Liquid Terminals Association(ABTL), and the National Federation of Port Operators (Fenop) have opposed the new rule.

The associations also filed an administrative appeal alleging that they should not be forced to report the prices charged since they are private enterprise.  This is still being analyzed by ANTAQ.

According to the schedule defined by the agency, the terminals must join the system by 15 June. However, besides more time to adjust to ANTAQ´s rules, terminal representatives have requested that the agency formulate a document specifying the confidentiality of the information provided, with the data to be used exclusively for statistical purposes.

The director general of ANTAQ, Mario Povia, said the agency could prepare a resolution stipulating the confidential nature of data. As for delaying the deadline for sending the information, which is scheduled for this September, Povia promised to present the plea for evaluation by the other directors.

“With our own data, we will no longer have to resort to the World Bank to know about the prices charged at our port terminals,” Povia said.

Last April, ANTAQ put the Port Price Monitoring System currently under test, on its website.  The Agency will monitor the monthly information sent by the terminals, having the prices charged in the previous two months as reference. The survey will cover prices charged for storage, patio and docking services, starting with containers.

Sources:  A Tribuna and Antaq

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