Posted on October 24, 2025
The Canal Galheta Dragagem Consortium (CCGD) won the concession auction for the access channel to the Porto de Paranaguá, according to Agência Brasil.
The winning consortium offered a 12.63% discount on the reference tariff, the maximum allowed under the auction rules. CCGD secured the concession with an out-grant payment of 276 million (mn) reais (US$49.9mn), beating three competitors. The hybrid auction model combined two criteria: the highest out-grant (a fixed payment to the government) and the lowest tariff to be charged to port users.
The fiercest bidding occurred between CCGD and Chinese company China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Dredging.
The concession, awarded by national waterway regulator Antaq, marks a milestone for Brazil’s port sector, as it is the country’s first auction of a port access channel. The contract is valid for 25 years, with the possibility of extension for up to 70 years.
Under the contract, the winning bidder must invest 1.22 billion reais (US$221mn) in the first five years and pay an annual fixed out-grant of 86mn reais over the 25-year term.
One of the main obligations is to increase the channel depth from 13.5m to 15.5m, allowing the port to handle larger vessels — container ships of up to 366m and bulk carriers with capacities of up to 120,000t.
(The original version of this content was written in English)
