Tietê-Paraná waterway sees 5.8% surge in cargo transport amid infrastructure upgrades

A half-yearly report developed by the Waterway Department of the Secretariat of Environment, Infrastructure, and Logistics (DH-Semil) indicated an increase in the volume of cargo transported on the Tietê-Paraná Waterway in the first half of this year. Approximately 974,000 tonnes traveled through the rivers, representing a 5.8% increase from the same period in 2023.

Some of the main products transported on this route include soybeans, soy meal, corn, and sugarcane. In the first half of this year, the predominant cargo consisted of soybeans, with 786,927 tons (81%), followed closely by sugarcane, standing at 186,327 tons (19%). This data pertains to the São Paulo section of the Tietê-Paraná Waterway, administered by the state Waterway Department.

Approximately one-third (800 km) of the 2,400 km waterway passes through São Paulo, with the remaining 1,600 km divided between Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, and Minas Gerais.

“The Tietê-Paraná Waterway is the main waterway in our state’s transport system and an important multimodal export corridor in the country. Considering that it uses less fuel and produces fewer emissions per unit of cargo carried, it is thought to be a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly logistics method than road transport,” explained Natália Resende, the Secretary of Environment, Infrastructure, and Logistics. “It is worth noting that the waterway is an important axis for transporting cargo from Brazil’s Mid-west to the Port of Santos.”

Expansion of the Nova Avanhandava Canal

In the first half of 2023, DH-Semil began draft-enhancing works on the Nova Avanhandava canal to stimulate waterway transport and develop logistics in the State of São Paulo. The State Government has invested over R$300 million in this project, aiming to improve navigability during dry periods and reduce the risk of navigation interruptions due to low water levels in the reservoir.

“This work involves deepening the channel by 3.5 meters over 16 kilometers, allowing the passage of large vessels during periods when lower water levels reduce the permitted draft,” highlights the Undersecretary of Logistics and Transport at Semil, Denis Gerage Amorim.

The method chosen involves special blasting using cartridge explosives to remove 552,000 m³ of rocky material. Completion is scheduled for the first half of 2026.

In 2023, the waterway saw approximately 2.5 million tons of various cargoes. After completing the depth expansion of the Tietê River bed between the Ilha Solteira and Três Irmãos reservoirs, this volume is expected to increase significantly, reaching 7 million tons, nearly three times the current capacity.

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