TCU Delays Decision on Santos Megaterminal Auction, Sets Dec. 8 Vote

Overview

• Minister Augusto Nardes requested more time for analysis, postponing the Tecon Santos 10 ruling and returning the vote to the plenary on December 8.
• Case relator Antônio Anastasia supports a one-phase auction open to all operators, requiring any winning incumbent to divest current Santos assets before signing the new contract.
• Revisor Bruno Dantas backs Antaq’s two-phase design that excludes incumbent operators and shipping lines in the first round, and minister Walton Alencar signaled support for this position.
• Trade and port‑user groups urged a 2025 auction in a public letter, citing export losses that include 939,000 sacks of coffee left unshipped in nine months and R$97.9 million in added logistics costs.
• The project would span about 622,000 m² in Saboó, add up to 3.5 million TEUs in capacity (roughly a 50% increase), and require multi‑billion‑real investment, with TCU approval and possible CADE review still needed before the notice can be published.