News and Business
ANTAQ Publishes Bidding Notice for the MUC04 Terminal at the Port of Fortaleza
The first auction for a terminal dedicated exclusively to containers since the 2013 Ports Law provides for investments of BRL 429 million and projected revenues of BRL 5.5 billion.
On October 23, 2026, Brazil’s National Waterway Transportation Agency (ANTAQ) published Bidding Notice No. 05/2026-ANTAQ, which pertains to the lease of public land and infrastructure intended for the handling and storage of containerized cargo at the Organized Port of Fortaleza, in the state of Ceará, designated as MUC04.
This is the first auction held under the 2013 New Ports Law for the lease of a terminal specializing in container handling and storage. Project modeling studies project investments of approximately BRL 429 million and projected revenues of BRL 5.5 billion over the term of the lease.
Key features of the project
| Item | MUC04 — Porto de Fortaleza (CE) |
| Total area | 148.119 m² |
| Cargo Profile | Handling and storage of containerized cargo |
| Berths | Berths 105 and 106, for the exclusive use of the lessee* |
| Estimated total contract value | BRL 5,544,405,000.00 (for illustrative purposes only) |
| Projected investments (according to ANTAQ) | BRL 429 million over the term of the lease |
| Minimum dynamic capacity | 400,000 TEU/year, starting in the 4th year of the contract |
| Minimum share capital | BRL 85.866.400,00 |
| Bid bond | BRL 55.444.050,00 |
*Note: In addition to handling cargo, the lessee will also be required to ensure immediate berthing for tourist vessels carrying more than 50 passengers, charging a maximum rate of R$ 0.79 per linear meter of occupied facility, per hour or fraction thereof.
Participation and Qualification Requirements
Brazilian or foreign legal entities, supplemental pension entities, and investment funds may participate, either individually or as a consortium, with no limit on the number of consortium members. Technical qualification is limited to a technical site visit certificate or a declaration of full knowledge, and a commitment to prequalification as a port operator (or to engage a prequalified operator). Economic and financial qualification requires financial statements for the last two fiscal years, certificates of bankruptcy and judicial reorganization, and a declaration of financial capacity.
Evaluation Criteria and Auction Process
The auction will be based on the highest Concession Fee to be paid to the Port Authority (Companhia Docas do Ceará). If there are two or more bids, a live bidding round will be held, in which qualified bidders who are among the two highest bidders or whose bid is equal to or greater than 90% of the highest bid will participate.
Only the winning bidder will submit the qualification documents (Volume 3) exclusively in digital format via the B3 Bidding Platform. If the winning bidder is disqualified, the remaining bidders will be called in order of ranking, and the disqualified bidder will be fined an amount equal to the bid bond.
The bidding notice, the draft concession agreement, and other documents are available on the ANTAQ website. Technical site visits (up to two) may be scheduled with Companhia Docas do Ceará.
For more information, please contact Mattos Filho’s Infrastructure and Energy and Administrative Law practices.
