Brazil port terminals urge dredging on Tapajós River

Port terminal lobby groups in Brazil are urging the government to authorize dredging on the Tapajós River to prevent transport disruptions. The industry fears that a strong El Niño weather pattern will cause water levels to drop, potentially making the waterway too shallow for the barges used to transport grain exports.

The Tapajós River is a critical route for global trading firms, including Bunge, Cargill, and Louis Dreyfus, which move approximately 15 million metric tons of grains annually through the region. Grains are loaded onto barges at terminals in Itaituba and transported to the ports of Santarém and Barcarena in the state of Pará.

The Brazilian Ministry of Ports and Airports has declined to authorize dredging on the stretch between Itaituba and Santarém at this time. The ministry stated the decision followed technical analysis and consultations with Indigenous peoples and traditional communities in the region.