Bolivia and Argentina push forward projects on the Paraguay‑Paraná Hydrovia

At a trilateral summit in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivian authorities, joined by officials from Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay, pledged to strengthen the Paraguay‑Paraná Hydrovia as a sovereign export corridor. The meeting highlighted a $500 million investment to link the Dionisio Foianini rail corridor to the Motacucito port, plans for regular dredging of the Tamengo Channel, digitalisation of export procedures and the development of Puerto Busch to raise annual cargo volumes from about 2 million to 5 million tonnes. Participants said the waterway could cut logistics costs by up to 30 % compared with Pacific routes.

In Argentina, the National Ports and Navigation Agency issued Resolution 36/2026, confirming the final concession of the hydrovia to a consortium of Jan De Nul and the Argentine firm Servimagnus. This follows a 2021 decree that temporarily nationalised the 26‑year private concession before a permanent reprivatisation. The decision underscores the strategic importance of the waterway for Argentine agro‑export flows and the ongoing debate over state control versus private operation.