The Port of Rio Grande will receive R$ 337 million in investments aimed at structural and operational improvements. The announcement was made on the morning of Thursday (16) by the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, during an event held at the public quay.
The package of announcements includes the modeling of the concession for the access channel to the Port of Rio Grande. The new model will allow the opening of a bidding process so that other companies can compete for the operation.
— We are going to place the Port of Rio Grande more and more on the route of international development. The access channel is a public-private partnership that we expect, over the next 25 years, regardless of the government, will be permanently maintained, with signaling and dredging carried out. Our idea is that the model will follow the standards of the Port of Paranaguá — said Minister Costa Filho.
According to the president of Portos RS, Cristiano Klinger, the company Infra SA will deliver the study of the access channel later this month to the Ministry of Ports and Airports. The auction for the channel is scheduled for the second half of 2026.
— These actions are aimed at improving and qualifying the service provided in the port complex. The update comes at an important moment for improving the competitiveness of our complex — said Klinger.
Among the investments is also the implementation of the Vessel Traffic System (VTS). The system will expand monitoring of the Lagoa dos Patos, allowing communication with vessels within a radius of up to 300 kilometers from the coast. This will provide more accurate data for vessel inspection.
— It is an investment in partnership with APL Marítimos and brings us cutting-edge technology for maritime monitoring. We have the system in operation to support us in navigation safety, commented the president of Portos RS.
The new delimitation of the Organized Port comes into effect in November
During the visit to Rio Grande, the minister also announced the redefinition of the boundaries of the Organized Port area, a measure that will take effect on November 3, according to an ordinance published by the federal government. The update revokes Ordinance No. 62 of 2023 and adjusts the geographic coordinates of the port complex.
The review of the boundaries considered aspects such as maritime and land access, logistical efficiency, and competitiveness. The total area of the Organized Port of Rio Grande will now be 54.1 million square meters, covering port facilities, access and protection infrastructure, as well as areas intended for cargo and passenger handling and storage.
The goal is to ensure legal security and transparency in port management, alongside the growth and expansion of the port over the years.
The measure also opens the way for new investments, as companies operating in the port depend on these definitions to obtain environmental licenses, formalize contracts, and participate in concessions.
These investments add to the R$432 million from the dredging that began earlier this month. In total, there are R$770 million in investments in Portos RS.
See below a historical record of container movement at the Port of Rio Grande starting from January 2022.
The chart was prepared with data from DataLiner:
Container Movement in Long-Haul Shipping at the Port of Rio Grande | Jan 2022 to Aug 2025 | TEU
Source: DataLiner (Click here to request a demo)
Future auctions are announced and total R$2 billion
On the occasion, the president of Portos RS, Cristiano Klinger, also announced new auctions for port terminals for the years 2026 and 2027.
— These terminals will expand our capacity, including areas to meet the demands for green hydrogen, he stated.
The auctions include terminals RIG 28, for liquid bulk, RIG 13 and 14, for grains, as well as terminals RIG 40 and RIG 23.
— These are four auctions that together amount to more than R$2 billion in investments over the next four years, which will requalify our Port, declared Minister Costa Filho.
The auction for the Lagoa Mirim waterway was also announced by the minister, with plans to begin in early 2026.
— We have priorities here: the first is the access channel to the port and the second is the Lagoa Mirim auction, which is of fundamental importance to the region — said Costa Filho.
Source: Gaucha ZH
