Cargo throughput on Brazil’s Tietê-Paraná Waterway grows 76%

The Tietê-Paraná Waterway, a vital transport route for agricultural goods to the Port of Santos, experienced a remarkable 76% surge in cargo throughput during the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2022, according to government data released on August 9.

Stretching across 2,400 kilometers, this waterway connectsSão Paulo to Mato Grosso, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Paraná, and Mato Grosso do Sul through 14 intermodal terminals. In the State of São Paulo alone, 800 kilometers are navigable.

According to the report, 810.7 thousand tonnes of cargo traveled the water course between January and June, compared to 460.3 thousand tonnes during the same period in 2022. Soy and soymeal are prominent among the goods carried.

However, the waterway also facilitates the transport of corn, wood, sand, and sugarcane derivatives. In June alone, a growth of 44.1% in cargo movement was noted, with 234.6 thousand tonnes shipped, as opposed to 162.7 thousand tonnes in the corresponding month of 2022.

“This outcome underscores the waterway’s significance for the state’s economic logistics. It functions as an axis for the flow of goods, poised to gain even more importance upon the completion of the channel lowering at Nova Avanhandava,” evaluates Natália Resende, Secretary of Environment, Infrastructure, and Logistics.

Moreover, the ongoing efforts to deepen the navigation channel will not only enhance resilience during dry spells but also improve reservoir storage for hydroelectric plants.

With an investment of R$ 300 million, the endeavor is expected to create 1,400 direct and indirect jobs while removing 552,000 cubic meters of rocks – equivalent to the volume of 600 Olympic swimming pools.

The cargo transport uses ‘flat’ vessels propelled by pushers that can carry 1,500 tonnes each. To transport an equivalent volume by road, 43 trucks weighing 35 tons would be required. Favorable rainfall patterns in 2022 and this year aided navigation by ensuring a minimum water depth of 2.2 meters in the Tietê River.

Relief

Ivam Jardim, a port consultant, notes that utilizing the waterway is excellent for the overall logistics system as it alleviates the burden on railways and offers a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative than road transport. “With an additional logistical choice, the potential for cargo flow via the Port of Santos expands, bolstering the growth potential of the terminals,” he explains.

However, Jardim underscores that the waterway is only a viable option for part of the route. This is due to the need to transfer cargo to highways or railways upon reaching Anhembi, a town near Piracicaba, to complete the final leg of the journey to the Port of Santos.

“The Government is working on a solution involving granting private concessions to waterways. This entails assigning responsibility for dredging, monitoring, signaling, and other services to a company, ensuring sustained navigability and, consequently, a secure cargo transport option for exporters,” he elaborates.

Source: A Tribuna

To read the original text, click on: https://www.atribuna.com.br/noticias/portomar/movimentacao-de-cargas-sobe-76-na-hidrovia-tiete-parana

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