Brazil utilizes only 49% of planned inland waterway network

A study by Pezco Economics, commissioned by the National Confederation of Transport (CNT), reveals that Brazil economically utilizes only 20,400 kilometers of the 41,700 kilometers of navigable waterways planned in the National Transport Plan.

The report identifies infrastructure limitations, maintenance issues, fragmented governance, regulatory insecurity, and financing difficulties as primary obstacles to expanding fluvial logistics. Despite these challenges, inland waterway cargo transport saw significant growth in 2025, moving 91.3 million tons—a 19.7% increase compared to 2024. When including cabotage on interior waterways, the total volume reached approximately 116 million tons.

Environmental factors also pose risks; fluctuations in river levels, such as the droughts recorded in the Amazon in 2023 and 2024, can reduce vessel capacity, increase travel times, and raise freight costs. The study emphasizes that increasing waterway use requires investments to ensure regular navigation conditions and better integration with other transport modes.