Brazil expands South American Integration Routes project to include all states

The Federal Government has presented the 2025 Report of the South American Integration Routes project. Produced by the Ministry of Planning and Budget, the document consolidates the inclusion of the 16 Brazilian states that do not border other South American countries into the national effort for regional integration.

This new phase outlines strategies to incorporate these states into the country’s logistical planning, with a focus on aligning national production chains with continental trade routes and expanding access to the Pacific coast.

“The South American Integration Routes project enters its third phase of development, expanding the scope beyond the eleven border states to include the 16 non-bordering states. These account for 36% of Brazil’s territory, 73% of its GDP, and 74% of the population,” said Minister Simone Tebet.

With over 3.1 million square kilometers, the states now included in the project cover an area larger than any single South American country. These regions are home to approximately 150.9 million people and have established trade relationships with other countries in South America. In 2024, they exported US$24.3 billion and imported US$16 billion from the region.

Brazilian exports to South America by road already account for 52% of total trade with the region, and non-border states are responsible for 66% of that volume. The state of São Paulo alone accounts for 62% of exports and 29% of imports from these areas. Together with Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and Espírito Santo, the Southeast region represents 87% of exports and 84% of imports from the non-bordering states.

“In 2025, looking toward South America and the Pacific is a practical necessity. Over the past 25 years, the world has undergone significant changes. On one hand, there has been a major expansion of China’s economic, productive, financial, and commercial dynamics. For the first time, Brazil’s main trading partners are in the Pacific. At the same time, Brazil’s Atlantic ports can serve as exit points for goods produced in neighboring countries bound for Europe or Africa. Just as the Bi-Oceanic Routes connect Brazil to the Pacific, they also bring South American countries to the Atlantic,” said João Villaverde, Secretary of Institutional Coordination.

This new stage of the program was developed through active consultation with state governments, ministries, regulatory agencies, oversight bodies, and stakeholders from the production and logistics sectors. Based on input from the 16 states and the Federal District, initiatives underway or planned under the New Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) were identified as aligning with the Integration Routes agenda. The next step is to establish a Situation Room to monitor the progress of these projects with greater precision and efficiency.

“The goal of this third stage was to open a dialogue channel with public and private entities in the non-bordering states to identify opportunities and foster collaboration. The aim is to strengthen existing commercial ties, expand initiatives for the sale of goods and services, and uncover new trade opportunities with regional partners,” Villaverde added.

Integration

The expansion of the Integration Routes project also aligns with the core principles of Brazil’s national development policy. The focus is on integrating the country’s productive and logistical regions in a cohesive and functional manner. The analysis involves repositioning Brazil in South America’s geoeconomy, breaking away from the historic Atlantic-centric approach.

“Regional integration and effective Atlantic–Pacific connectivity could be key to achieving the positive outcomes we hope for in terms of jobs, income, inclusion, and improved social and political conditions. Therefore, the South American Integration Routes play a vital role for Brazil and the continent in building solid democratic foundations for development, with social inclusion, environmental sustainability, sovereignty, and security,” emphasized Simone Tebet.

Each of the 16 non-bordering states presented proposals aligned with their local economic strengths. The opportunities identified through dialogue with the Southeastern states reflect the region’s industrial and technological prowess. Proposals include establishing industrial export hubs, expanding insulin exports, strengthening the automotive sector, and consolidating high-value-added tech and export sectors. In the Northeast, states highlighted initiatives leveraging their production chains and logistical and tourism potential. In the North and Central-West, proposals emphasized productive integration and the strengthening of road and rail transport modes.

Several projects from previous phases and this current stage already have funding from the federal budget, BNDES, or the private sector. As the program progresses, new financing possibilities have been identified, such as the use of Constitutional Financing Funds (FCFs) and initiatives included in the states’ Multi-Year Plans.

Source: Portal Portuario

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