Portos do Paraná regularizes 100% of areas and secures R$5.1 billion in investments

The State Government and Portos do Paraná have regularized 100% of Paraná’s port areas—known as PARs—allocated for private operation, and in 2025, also granted the concession of the Access Channel to the Port of Paranaguá. Investments will reach R$5.1 billion, marking a new phase for the state’s logistics sector.

In addition to the amounts contractually committed to works, renovations and expansions of the areas—boosting Paraná’s foreign trade—Portos do Paraná also received an additional R$1.3 billion from concession fees to be invested in the modernization and expansion of infrastructure.

“Paraná is at the forefront of the port sector. We were the first Brazilian port authority to obtain delegated powers to conduct our own auctions, the first to regularize 100% of the areas, and the first to auction the Access Channel itself,” said Governor Ratinho Junior. “And the numbers already point to this change. In 2025, we handled more than 70 million tonnes, a record in our history.”

“With the regularization of the areas, we are attracting new investments that ensure greater operational security. This will lead to higher efficiency in cargo handling, greater competitiveness and, consequently, more business for our ports,” said Luiz Fernando Garcia, CEO of Portos do Paraná.

Below is a historical overview of grain exports via the Port of Paranaguá since January 2022. The chart was prepared using DataLiner data:

Source: DataLiner (Click here to request a demo)

The main advantage of the concessions carried out at the stock exchange is the regularization of lease contracts. Many of them had been operating under precarious agreements for more than a decade. Until 2018, areas were operated under instruments that prevented new investments while providing inadequate remuneration to the Port Authority. With the new leases, there will be a significant infrastructure upgrade across the entire port complex, increasing the efficiency and productivity of the logistics hub.

Planned investments include the construction of the “T” Pier—which will become the new eastern export corridor—and the “F” Pier, which will connect terminals in the new western corridor. Expansion of the liquid bulk pier is also planned, with interconnection of terminals handling this type of cargo. In addition, the new Access Channel will ensure higher productivity.

The “T” Pier, for example, will be built by the companies that secured the rights to operate PARs 15, 14 and 25, together with Portos do Paraná itself. The first phase of the new structure will feature two berths and an ultra-modern conveyor belt system, capable of transporting products from terminals to ship holds at high speed.

Currently, the system handles around 3,000 tonnes of soybeans, other grains, and meals per hour at a single berth. With the new structure, this volume will rise to 8,000 tonnes per hour at each berth. In addition to these berthing infrastructure investments, leaseholders will be required to invest a further R$1 billion in improvements to the awarded areas where the terminals are located.

PAR 09, dedicated to the handling and storage of vegetable dry bulk and auctioned in 2023, will also promote improvements in common port areas. The leaseholder will build the first stage of the “F” Pier, connecting terminals in the western corridor, and will also undertake upgrades within its operating area. PAR 50, granted in 2023, will receive the expansion of the “L” Pier, dedicated to liquid cargoes, which will connect all terminals handling liquid bulk.

PARs 01 (general cargo handling and storage), 12 (vehicles) and 32 (bagged and bulk sugar) were the first to be auctioned and have already completed the works required under their contracts.

PAR 01, dedicated to general cargo handling and storage—especially paper and pulp—received R$146 million and is fully operational. In 2024 alone, more than 500,000 tonnes of pulp were handled in the area.

PAR 12 received R$32.4 million in improvements for roll-on/roll-off cargo (vehicles). In 2024 alone, more than 7,500 vehicles passed through the yard. From October 2024 to January 2025, the total already exceeds 32,000 vehicles. At

PAR 32—dedicated to the export of general cargo, especially bagged and bulk sugar—more than R$11.8 million has been invested.

The auction of the Access Channel will deepen the channel, allowing the draft to increase from the current 13.3 meters to 15.5 meters within up to five years. The increase of more than two meters in draft will enable a significant jump in cargo loading capacity: an additional 1,000 containers or 14,000 tonnes of vegetable dry bulk on a single vessel.

The Canal da Galheta Dragagem Consortium, formed by FTS Participações Societárias S.A., Deme Concessions NV and Deme Dredging NV, won the bid by offering the maximum tariff discount (12.63%) and a concession fee bid of R$276 million.

The contract provides for the expansion, maintenance and operation of the Access Waterway Channel to the Ports of Paranaguá and Antonina, which is 34.5 km long. “In addition to greater depth, the advantages of the auction for Portos do Paraná include a permanent dredged channel for 25 years, safer navigation and a discount for users, with lower tariffs as a result of the auction,” Garcia highlighted.

With the concession, the main transformation will be the deepening of the channel, allowing an increase in draft—the distance from the deepest point of the vessel to the water surface—from the current 13.3 meters to 15.5 meters within up to five years. This increase of more than two meters will enable a substantial leap in cargo loading capacity: an additional 1,000 containers or 14,000 tonnes of vegetable dry bulk on a single ship.

As a result, the Port of Paranaguá will be ready to operate 366-type container vessels fully loaded, with capacities of up to 14,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). Dry bulk vessels will be able to load up to 125,000 tonnes of soybeans, corn and meals. Currently, the maximum average load for a bulk carrier is around 78,000 tonnes. Tankers will be able to access the channel with up to 74,000 tonnes of products.

The concession will also reduce the Inframar tariff—paid by vessels to access the ports—by 12.63%. This tariff covers the costs of dredging required to ensure safe navigation.

Source: Portos do Paraná