The Federal Government is moving forward in structuring what could become a landmark for national logistics: Brazil's first inland waterway concession in history. The Paraguay River Hydroway project, considered strategic for the flow of cargo from the Center-West region, is scheduled for auction in 2027, according to information provided by the Minister of Ports and Airports, Tomé Franca.
The statement was made during participation in the program Bom Dia, Ministro, by Empresa Brasileira de Comunicação (EBC), when the minister detailed the initiative's schedule and highlighted the hydroway's importance for the country's economic and logistics development. The government expects to publish the tender notice still in 2026, although some regulatory and legislative stages may cause adjustments to the planned calendar.
The project covers a stretch of approximately 600 kilometers between Corumbá (MS) and the mouth of the Apa River in Porto Murtinho (MS), as well as strategic connections involving Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. The concession will have an estimated term of 15 years and foresees investments exceeding R$ 63 million in the first five years of operation. Resources will be allocated mainly to dredging, signaling, buoying and operational improvements that ensure safety and permanent navigability of the hydroway.
According to estimates from the Ministry of Ports and Airports, initial cargo movement should reach approximately 9 million tons per year, potentially reaching up to 15 million tons over the concession period. The hydroway plays a fundamental role in the transport of grains, fertilizers, fuels and minerals, especially for the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, strengthening logistics integration with international markets.
The concession is part of a broader government strategy to increase the participation of inland waterways in Brazil's transport matrix. Currently, only a small portion of national cargo is moved through rivers, despite the enormous inland waterway potential existing in the country. The objective is to increase logistics efficiency, reduce transport costs and enhance the competitiveness of Brazilian exports.
The project schedule underwent recent adjustments. Initially scheduled to occur still in 2026, the auction was rescheduled for the first half of 2027 due to regulatory and environmental questions and the need for institutional alignment among the countries involved. The government, however, maintains its commitment to advance studies and publish the tender notice as soon as possible.
The sector's expectation is that the future concession will represent a watershed moment for Brazilian inland waterway transport, paving the way for new projects on rivers such as Madeira, Tapajós, Tocantins and São Francisco, expanding integration between ports, railways, highways and inland waterways across the entire national territory.
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