In a ceremony late on 29 January, the federal government and the state of Maranhão signed a 25-year extension of the Porto do Itaqui management contract, securing public-sector control of the grain-and-minerals gateway until 2051. The addendum, backed by the National Waterway Transport Agency (ANTAQ), obliges the state-owned operator EMAP to invest at least R$ 1.3 billion (US $260 million) in berth reinforcement, rail sidings and green-corridor electrification over the next decade.
Porto do Itaqui is Brazil’s fastest-growing bulk port, handling nearly 37 million t of cargo in 2025—up 10 % year-on-year—thanks to soy and corn exports from the MATOPIBA region. For global mobility stakeholders, the deal matters because Itaqui is a key node for project cargo and break-bulk components used in the renewables and mining sectors that draw large expatriate workforces to northern Brazil. Lead times on oversize shipments often dictate the timing of assignment start-dates; smoother port operations reduce costly standby periods for specialised foreign labour.
For foreign engineers, technicians and project managers heading to Maranhão, securing the appropriate visas and work permits can be just as time-critical as booking cargo space. VisaHQ’s dedicated Brazil desk (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) streamlines the entire application process—offering real-time status tracking, document checks and concierge services—so international staff can arrive on site as soon as the oversized shipments they accompany.
![Brazil renews Maranhão’s Porto do Itaqui concession through 2051, unlocking R$ 1.3 billion in new logistics spend]()
The new contract also folds ferry terminals at Ponta da Espera and Cujupe into the concession, guaranteeing continuous passenger service across São Marcos Bay—a daily commute route for offshore-energy crews and ship-repair technicians. EMAP must install an integrated biometric ticketing system compatible with Seaport ID, Brazil’s nascent single-window platform for multimodal travel, further easing last-mile transfers for rotating workforces.
Environmental provisions require Itaqui to hit net-zero scope-1 emissions by 2040, including shore-power connections for vessels and electric yard vehicles. Multinationals overseeing ISO 14001 supply chains will welcome the reduced carbon footprint attached to Brazilian export routes.
Logistics analysts forecast that capacity gains could lift the port’s throughput to 55 million t by 2031, potentially diverting cargo from congested Santos and easing pressure on road transport in São Paulo state. That, in turn, may expand direct coastal feeder services to Rio de Janeiro and Paranaguá, creating faster domestic repositioning options for household goods and corporate relocations.
Porto do Itaqui is Brazil’s fastest-growing bulk port, handling nearly 37 million t of cargo in 2025—up 10 % year-on-year—thanks to soy and corn exports from the MATOPIBA region. For global mobility stakeholders, the deal matters because Itaqui is a key node for project cargo and break-bulk components used in the renewables and mining sectors that draw large expatriate workforces to northern Brazil. Lead times on oversize shipments often dictate the timing of assignment start-dates; smoother port operations reduce costly standby periods for specialised foreign labour.
For foreign engineers, technicians and project managers heading to Maranhão, securing the appropriate visas and work permits can be just as time-critical as booking cargo space. VisaHQ’s dedicated Brazil desk (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) streamlines the entire application process—offering real-time status tracking, document checks and concierge services—so international staff can arrive on site as soon as the oversized shipments they accompany.
The new contract also folds ferry terminals at Ponta da Espera and Cujupe into the concession, guaranteeing continuous passenger service across São Marcos Bay—a daily commute route for offshore-energy crews and ship-repair technicians. EMAP must install an integrated biometric ticketing system compatible with Seaport ID, Brazil’s nascent single-window platform for multimodal travel, further easing last-mile transfers for rotating workforces.
Environmental provisions require Itaqui to hit net-zero scope-1 emissions by 2040, including shore-power connections for vessels and electric yard vehicles. Multinationals overseeing ISO 14001 supply chains will welcome the reduced carbon footprint attached to Brazilian export routes.
Logistics analysts forecast that capacity gains could lift the port’s throughput to 55 million t by 2031, potentially diverting cargo from congested Santos and easing pressure on road transport in São Paulo state. That, in turn, may expand direct coastal feeder services to Rio de Janeiro and Paranaguá, creating faster domestic repositioning options for household goods and corporate relocations.
