Northern Arc Waterways Cement Their Role as a Strategic Corridor for Brazil’s Agribusiness

The Northern Region’s river navigation has evolved from a local transport mode into a central component of Brazil’s logistics system. Data from the National Supply Company (Conab) show that the Northern Arc’s waterway corridors moved 49.7 million tonnes of soybeans and corn between January and October 2025.

This infrastructure, which connects production areas in the Center-West to export ports in the Amazon, has transformed the country’s economic geography. According to Conab’s November 2025 Logistics Bulletin, Northern Arc ports accounted for 37.2% of Brazil’s soybean exports and 41.3% of corn shipments in the first ten months of the year.

These figures confirm that the region is no longer just complementary to terminals in the South and Southeast, but has become a strategic alternative and, in many flows, the most efficient route for moving harvests.

For the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, this represents a structural shift for the country. “The numbers prove that the Northern Arc is no longer a promise but a consolidated reality. When we see that more than 40% of the country’s corn and more than a third of soybeans are shipped through our rivers, we are talking about efficiency and competitiveness. Strengthening these waterways means ensuring that Brazilian products reach international markets faster and at lower cost,” he said.

Multimodal integration

The Northern Arc operates on a robust multimodal system. Cargo arrives by highways and is transferred to barge convoys at strategic hubs such as Miritituba/Itaituba (PA), Porto Velho (RO), and the new hub in Caracaraí (RR). From there, shipments travel along the Tapajós, Madeira, and Amazon rivers to export ports in Itacoatiara (AM), Santarém (PA), and Barcarena (PA).

This integration provides decisive advantages for national competitiveness. In addition to reducing historical dependence on long road routes heading south, northern export routes shorten transit times to consumer markets in Europe and Asia.

Another advantage is barge efficiency. River transport can be up to 50% more cost-effective over long distances than road-only transport.

“For waterways to move millions of tonnes, as they have been doing, we need predictability in river conditions. That is why we are focused on ensuring continuous navigability through long-term contracts, moving away from the emergency-response model. Our work is to make sure this multimodal system operates year-round, offering security for harvest outflow and sustainability for the transport matrix,” said the National Secretary for Waterways and Navigation, Otto Burlier.

The National Secretariat for Waterways has been working on three main fronts: maintaining navigability, expanding infrastructure, and modernizing the fleet.

Investment and maintenance

To ensure operational predictability, emergency actions are being replaced by multi-year contracts. New contracts for dredging and signaling on the Amazon and Solimões rivers, for example, total more than R$370 million over five years.

Meanwhile, the Merchant Marine Fund has supported the renewal of the logistics fleet. Ongoing projects include the construction of hundreds of barges and dozens of push boats, many built in shipyards in Amazonas, generating jobs and strengthening the regional shipbuilding industry.

Source: Ministério dos Portos E Aeroportos

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