Brazil, Paraguay set July talks on Paraguay River waterway auction

Brazil's Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) announced a technical meeting with Paraguay at the end of July to advance negotiations on the auction of the Paraguay River waterway. The waterway runs through Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, so an agreement among the three countries is required for the project to proceed.

The meeting follows a bilateral discussion held during the 68th Mercosur Heads of State summit in Asunción. After technical negotiations are completed and project adjustments are made, Brazil plans to move forward with regulatory and administrative steps before publishing the concession tender. The tender is slated for the second half of 2026, with the auction expected in the first half of 2027. Minister of Ports and Airports Tomé Franca said the government aims to release the edit between late 2026 and early 2027, depending on progress with Paraguay and Bolivia. The project is a priority for expanding Brazil's inland navigation infrastructure and may introduce new concession models for waterway management.