Brazil's Amazon Logistics Face Drought‑Driven Challenges, Dry‑Fee Debate Revives

Recurring droughts in the Amazon basin are increasingly disrupting Brazil's riverine transport network. Experts at a recent FGV‑hosted webinar highlighted that the region has experienced five major droughts and four major floods in the past 25 years, with the Rio Negro reaching its lowest level in over a century in 2024. The reduced water levels threaten the flow of goods to and from the Manaus industrial hub, prompting calls for preventive planning, climate intelligence and investment in hydro‑infrastructure.

At the same time, the “taxa seca” – a surcharge on hydro‑transport to offset operational costs during droughts – has re‑entered policy discussions. MoveInfra, a coalition of Brazil’s leading infrastructure groups, warns that cargo convoys on the Tapajós River could face restrictions from August and risk a total navigation shutdown in September unless dredging is undertaken. The National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq) indicated that the fee could be applied if extraordinary costs are documented and transparent, with a 30‑day notice requirement for future charges. Stakeholders see the fee as a temporary measure while broader concession reforms stall.