CNA participates in debate on the Brazilian port structure

The Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA) participated in a debate on the Brazilian port structure, on Monday (29).

The meeting, broadcast live on social media, was promoted by the Commercial and Industrial Association of Ribeirão Preto (Acirp). CNA's Strategic Affairs coordinator, Elisangela Pereira Lopes, was one of the debaters.

Elisangela gave a presentation on the topic “Post Covid-19 - Infrastructure for Agriculture”. She addressed points such as the need for infrastructure to meet the performance of the agricultural sector and highlighted the evolution of soybean and corn exports through the ports of Arco Norte, Sul and Southeast.

“Production has almost doubled and exports have tripled in the last 10 years, but infrastructure has not kept up with this growth. Today, more than 61% of production is above the 16th parallel, but only 28% is exported through ports there. We still have to export through ports in the South and Southeast and this has burdened domestic producers and consumers,” he said.

The CNA Strategic Affairs coordinator also presented data on Brazil's transport matrix, costs from farming to ports and analyzed the use of road, rail and waterways in the country.

In Elisangela's view, logistics for agriculture needs to be based on pillars such as investments in infrastructure, legal security and transparency, partnerships between the Government and the private sector, free enterprise and multimodality. With this, she points out, it will be possible to reduce logistics costs, increase competitiveness and production and generate income and employment.

Improving transport regulation is another important measure. Among the CNA's suggestions are the approval of the regulation that encourages the use of cabotage navigation and the implementation of the Single Transport Document (DT-e) for all transport operations.

“As soon as we had the shutdown caused by Covid, actions were focused on guaranteeing the supply of the Brazilian population and commitments with the countries that import our products. After the pandemic, we need the Government to continue investing in ongoing works, that there is no mandatory freight pricing and that the link between transport models is promoted”, stated the CNA Strategic Affairs coordinator.

The debate also featured the president of the Santos Commercial Association (ACS), Mauro Sammarco; the director of Foreign Trade at Acirp, André Ali Mere; and the commercial director of Brasil Terminal Portuário, Claudio Oliveira.

See the CNA presentation here.