Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
3 min of reading 
0 comments 
Current Framework And Transformative Proposal
Since 2013, the current ports law has shown progress, but has become outdated, according to experts consulted by the Brazilian Institute of Infrastructure (IBI).
The Chamber of Deputies forwarded the preliminary draft delivered by Ceportos in October 2024 as PL 733 in February 2025.
Deputy Leur Lomanto Júnior presented the project.
-
It is now official: Correios and AliExpress join forces to speed up deliveries throughout Brazil, enhance package tracking, and strengthen the digital logistics infrastructure that supports the rapid growth of e-commerce in 2026.
-
The truck that “bent physics” in the Monte Carlo case: report indicates impossible route between São Paulo and Mato Grosso, R$ 4 million in recorded refueling, R$ 3 million advanced, and suspicion of entries without real correspondence.
-
ANTT authorizes new electronic tolls without barriers on highways in Paraná and Goiás, expands free flow toll collection, and introduces drivers to a new rule that may result in a fine if the toll is not paid on time.
-
After 5 years stalled by the Supreme Court, the R$ 9 billion Ferrogrão railway is back on track to connect Sinop to Miritituba over 933 kilometers, transport grains by rail, and cut 50% of CO2 emissions from Brazilian agribusiness.
The proposal aims to simplify processes and strengthen the legal security of investors, which could accelerate future concessions, according to Marcelo Sammarco, vice president of IBI.
Currently, authorities can take up to five years to authorize new investments, making this vital.
One example is Tecon Santos 10, at the Port of Santos, which is expected to handle 3.5 million TEUs annually.
Legal Innovations And Institutional Transparency
In addition to speeding up authorizations, the PL grants new prerogatives.
Port agents and Antaq will have expanded powers as the granting authority.
The Ministry of Ports and Airports will have a more strategic role.
Private investments may proceed without prior authorization, with goals and indicators provided in management contracts.
This vision was advocated by Deputy Paulo Alexandre Barbosa.
There is also unification of the maximum lease term to up to 70 years for public benefit.
This point brings important predictability for the port sector.
Environmental Licensing And Competitiveness
Until now, each port terminal required an environmental license individually, which created excessive processing, especially in complexes like Santos, with dozens of terminals.
With the PL, the environmental licensing will apply to the entire complex.
This means less bureaucracy, greater efficiency, and reduction of carbon emissions.
The executive director of Abac, Luiz Fernando Resano, highlighted that cabotage handled 1.5 million TEUs in 2024.
This was the second largest volume of the decade.
This activity avoided about 1 million road trips and reduced emissions by up to four times.
Additionally, according to Resano, the use of biodiesel could virtually eliminate emissions in domestic maritime transport.
Economic Gains And International Agenda
The project also responds to OECD recommendations, a relevant international organization. Furthermore, in a 2022 report, the entity suggested port autonomy and fewer agencies in contractual changes.
Consequently, adopting these measures could generate between R$ 639 million and R$ 933 million annually, according to estimates. Additionally, this figure was considered conservative, as indirect gains were not included.
Currently, Brazil ranks 104th in port efficiency among 138 countries evaluated by the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index. Therefore, the numbers reveal significant lag.
Moreover, port processes in the country involve up to 18 steps, with an average wait of 16 months. However, in the Philippines, the average is only 85 days.
Finally, this data was confirmed in a study by the OECD in partnership with Cade, reinforcing the urgency of changes. After all, inefficiency undermines national competitiveness.
Be the first to react!