BRASILIA: Brazilian officials have announced plans to publish new port rules that give operators longer contracts and encourage investments that spur trade growth.
Longer contracts may attract investors, who are urged to make upgrades that can handle growing exports of low-cost sugar, coffee and soy.
Antaq, the federal ports agency, said new regulations may be published in May 2017.
New rules could increase the length of an operator’s first license from 25 to 35 years, and allow repeated license extensions for up to 70 years rather than just 50 years.
They may ease projects such as building new capacity and dredging within common areas.
Licensing renewal as well as bidding for port contracts may become easier.
In recent years the government encouraged operators to invest a combined US$2.84 billion in return for early renewal of their licenses.
But not all early license renewals were granted due to centralizing regulation.
Tecon Rio Grande (Tecon RG), a container terminal operator in the south of Brazil is currently investing to reach 100 berth moves per hour (MPH) at its terminal at the Port of Rio Grande.
