ECONOMICALLY NAVIGABLE WATERWAY NETWORK EXPANDS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS

Brazil’s network of economically navigable waterways grew by 279 km in two years, rising from 20.1 thousand km in 2022 to 20.4 thousand km in 2024 — a 1.39% increase, according to the National Waterway Transport Agency (ANTAQ). The data, from the biennial Study of Economically Navigable Inland Waterways (VEN), were approved during ANTAQ’s board meeting. The North Region recorded the highest expansion (3.56%), underscoring the strategic role of waterways in regional integration and logistics. The current network now represents nearly 49% of the total projected in the National Transport Plan (41.7 thousand km). ANTAQ highlighted the environmental and economic advantages of waterway transport, which emits four to five times less pollution than road transport and 1.5 times less carbon than railways, while offering lower operational costs, fewer accidents, and reduced cargo losses.
Source: Informativo dos Portos / Datamar News