With R$436 million in investments, Santa Catarina ports set to expand operations

The Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, was at the Port of São Francisco do Sul this Tuesday (23) to take part in the signing ceremony of the service order for dredging the Babitonga Bay and to celebrate investments in Santa Catarina’s ports. The package of works and authorizations totals R$436.6 million in investments aimed at strengthening the state’s port infrastructure.

Santa Catarina currently has six ports: Itajaí, São Francisco do Sul, and Imbituba, which are public, and Itapoá, Portonave, and Teporti, which are private and focus on fishing and specific types of cargo.

With a strong vocation for container, general cargo, and bulk operations, the port system in Santa Catarina plays a central role in Brazilian foreign trade, linking regional and national production to key international markets.

Between public and private projects, the state now has more than R$5.3 billion in investments, as emphasized by Minister Silvio Costa Filho. “Santa Catarina is one of the fastest-growing states in Brazil. It is becoming a new hub for the national port sector. Today, we have six strategic ports, and we aim to reach eight more in the coming years. This will be fundamental to expanding our operations here in the state,” said the minister.

Costa Filho also stressed the sector’s growth. “We have seen more than 10% growth, and container operations in particular are booming — over 20% of Brazil’s container operations pass through Santa Catarina’s ports,” he added.

Data from the Ministry of Ports and Airports indicate that between January and July 2025, the six terminals collectively handled 16.8 million tonnes: 10.5 million tonnes in São Francisco do Sul, 4.2 million tonnes in Imbituba, and 2.1 million tonnes in Itajaí.

Babitonga Bay
During his visit, Silvio Costa Filho flew over Babitonga Bay to observe the facilities of the São Francisco do Sul and Itapoá ports.

“We came to São Francisco do Sul to announce a set of investments to improve port infrastructure in Santa Catarina. It is a fast-growing state, generating jobs, income, and driving the economy. Today, Santa Catarina has more than R$20 billion in investments from the federal PAC program, of which more than R$10 billion are in the port sector, both public and private,” the minister highlighted.

Alongside Governor Jorginho Mello, the minister signed the service order for dredging Babitonga Bay, which will receive more than R$300 million from the federal PAC program. The project aims to ensure navigational safety, improve logistics efficiency, and expand the port’s operational capacity. Execution is expected to take 10 months.

Governor Jorginho Mello said the dredging will transform the state’s ecosystem. “I have no doubt the private sector is giving a decisive push for growth and development,” he said.

The work will allow larger vessels to dock, increasing competitiveness and ensuring more efficient and secure traffic.

National Ports Secretary Alex Ávila highlighted the importance of cooperation between different levels of government. “The most symbolic aspect is unity — the combined efforts of the federal and state governments and regulators to achieve the common goal of improving logistics and raising the level of service in Santa Catarina’s ports,” he noted.

Frederico Dias, president of the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq), added that the success of port operations in Santa Catarina is key for private sector confidence. “Businesses expect a healthy environment and legal certainty, and regulators play a critical role in ensuring that. We are seeing improvements in both waterway and land access, and what we need is continued cooperation between private companies, the state government, and the federal government to improve people’s lives, lower prices, and reduce Brazil’s costs,” he said.

Port of Imbituba
Another highlight is the maintenance and reinforcement of the Imbituba breakwater, which will receive R$87 million in federal funding. The works, estimated to take 18 months, aim to increase the protection and efficiency of local infrastructure.

Also in Imbituba, investments include R$17 million for southern road access and R$14 million for northern access.

At the Port of São Francisco do Sul, R$12.6 million will be allocated to road improvements.

The package also includes strategic investments, such as R$4.3 million for developing the State Logistics and Transport Plan (PELT) in partnership with Infra S.A., which will guide integrated infrastructure planning with a focus on cargo flow and state logistics development.

Additionally, R$2.2 million will fund the construction of a new Brazilian Navy outpost in Imbituba, reinforcing maritime authority presence, enhancing operational safety, and improving traffic monitoring in the region.

Source: Ministério dos Portos e Aeroportos

Sharing is caring!