Portos do Paraná Announces PAR15 Lease Auction and Strategic Investments

On Friday (Dec. 6), Portos do Paraná unveiled the official publication of the auction notice for the PAR15 lease during an event in Paranaguá attended by Governor Carlos Massa Ratinho Junior, Minister of Ports and Airports Silvio Costa Filho, and Portos do Paraná’s Luiz Fernando Garcia. The 38,859-square-meter area at the Port of Paranaguá will be dedicated to solid vegetable bulk operations, with a projected investment of BRL 656 million.

“The port is the driving force behind the economy of Paranaguá and, by extension, the state of Paraná. When the port thrives, the entire region gains. A growing port leads to more jobs and greater development,” Governor Ratinho Junior stated. “This momentum has earned the Port of Paranaguá the title of Brazil’s best port for five consecutive years, as recognized by the Ministry of Ports and Airports.”

The event also saw the submission of a groundbreaking proposal to the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) for the concession of the Port of Paranaguá’s access channel. This initiative will allow for deeper drafts, enhancing the port’s capacity. Additionally, the railway dumping structure Moegão, which is 18% complete, was highlighted. Once finished, it will increase the port’s rail-based cargo handling capacity.

The 35-year lease for PAR15 is vital in strengthening Paraná’s position in the global agribusiness supply chain, especially with the growing production of soybeans (both grain and meal), corn, wheat, and sugar.

Portos do Paraná reported that in 2023, the Port of Paranaguá handled 31.3 million tonnes of solid vegetable bulk, including sugar, barley, meal, wheat flour, malt grains, corn, soybeans, and wheat. Projections suggest that by 2057, solid vegetable bulk throughput in PAR15 could reach 63 million tonnes.

Successful Lease Auctions – Since 2019, Portos do Paraná has auctioned five port areas, securing more than BRL 3.46 billion in investments. It was the first public company in Brazil’s port sector to gain the federal government’s delegation to manage its own areas.

Previously leased areas include:

• PAR09: A 24,000-square-meter area for handling and storing solid vegetable bulk.
• PAR50: An 85,000-square-meter area dedicated to liquid bulk.
• PAR01: A pulp terminal acquired by Klabin.
• PAR12: A 74,100-square-meter terminal with capacity for 4,000 vehicles.
• PAR32: A 6,600-square-meter terminal specializing in general cargo, particularly bagged sugar.

“These new leases inject dynamism and bring vital investments to the Port of Paranaguá,” said CEO Luiz Fernando Garcia. “The PAR15 area has been awaiting auction since 2016, and this contract will require a BRL 500 million investment to be completed within five years, significantly boosting capacity.”

Portos do Paraná is also moving with the studies for two more upcoming leases, PAR14 and PAR25, aimed at handling and storing solid vegetable bulk.

“Once the leases for PAR15, PAR14, and PAR25 are completed, it will bring an additional BRL 2 billion in investments over the next five years, on top of the BRL 2 billion already secured through previously awarded leases,” Garcia added. “With these three areas leased, the Port of Paranaguá will become the first in Brazil to fully regularize all of its operational contracts.”

Minister Silvio Costa Filho emphasized that these recent investments place Paraná at the forefront of Brazil’s port sector. “The Port of Paranaguá has become a benchmark, having been named the best port in Brazil for five consecutive years. It is one of the country’s leading ports in terms of infrastructure investment and plays a crucial role in exporting Brazilian agricultural products, particularly solid vegetable bulk and fertilizers,” Costa Filho said.

“This port has set the standard for excellence in Brazil, and our goal is to continue this work to ensure the state keeps growing, developing, and creating jobs and income for its people,” he concluded.

Other Key Investments –The event also highlighted other significant investments, including improvements to the Western Export Terminal – TOEX and the fertilizer conveyor system (Rocha and Fertipar).

These projects, totaling BRL 412.7 million, are being carried out by Portos do Paraná in partnership with Pasa, CAP, and Klabin. These investments will significantly increase the efficiency of cargo operations at the port.

Equipped with cutting-edge technology, TOEX will serve as a flagship terminal for receiving, storing, and shipping solid vegetable bulk at berth 201. The terminal’s two enclosed conveyor belts, each nearly a kilometer long, will transport up to 4,000 tonnes per hour, making it the most efficient system of its kind in Brazil.

TOEX will have a throughput capacity of 4 million tonnes annually, with modern dust suppression systems ensuring cleaner, more sustainable operations. The first technical shipment is scheduled for later this month, and operations will begin at full capacity in January 2025, further enhancing the Port of Paranaguá’s attractiveness as a logistics hub.

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