Still little explored by Brazilian companies, cabotage transportation, ie by waterways, can gain strength from the regulation of the BR do Mar program, made in July 2025. Survey points out that today 29% of industries use the modal. Among those who do not use, 20% show interest in adhering, provided that there are adequate transport conditions and cost reduction.
Despite the potential of the coast and the Brazilian rivers, the cabotage accounts for only 11% of the national transport matrix, being mainly concentrated between oil and derivatives (75% of the total). The study also shows that 76% of entrepreneurs who already use the modal are unaware of the BR of the sea. Among those they know, nine out of ten believe the program will bring benefits, especially in reducing costs.
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The BR do Mar Program
Created in 2022, BR do Mar gathers measures to expand the offer of vessels and reduce logistics spending. With the publication of Decree No. 12.555/25, the rules were defined for Brazilian Navigation Companies (EBNs) to bear overfront foreign vessels, according to the conditions provided for in the program.
Cabotage provides for transportation between ports of the same country, without crossing international borders. This is an alternative to road transport, with advantages such as large volume movement, cost reduction, greater theft safety and lower environmental impact.
“Brazil has an extensive coast, but still uses little cabotage navigation. For the industry, which carries large volumes, the modal can be decisive in increasing competitiveness,” says CNI’s director of institutional relations Roberto Muniz.
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Costs and barriers
Expense reduction is the main benefit expected by 85% of companies that already use cabotage and 70% of those who do not use it yet. Among the challenges, almost 70% of those interviewed by CNI, whether or not the modal user, point out the low investments in port infrastructure such as obstacle.
Other obstacles include geographical incompatibility (45%), lack of available routes (39%), longest traffic time (15%) and distance to ports (15%). The safety of the modal was highlighted by 21% as a decisive factor.
The states with greater interest in expanding the use of the São Rio Grande do Sul (17%), Bahia (13%), Rio Grande do Norte (13%) and Santa Catarina (13%).
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Competitiveness and sustainability
According to Paula Bogossian, CNI infrastructure analyst, the greatest use of cabotage could reduce the country’s logistics costs by up to 13%. “Today Brazil misuse road transport over long distances. The balance of the transport matrix is critical to competitiveness,” he says.
The study also points out that companies that resort to cabotage travel longer average distances (1,213 km) compared to those who do not use it (862 km). The use of the modal grows according to the size of the company: only 7% of small businesses resort to it, against 22% of averages and 44% of large.
Despite the regulation, there are still ordinances to define key points, such as long-term charter contracts and criteria for the concept of “sustainable vessel”. CNI argues that the environmental agenda is reconciled with the expansion of cabotage.
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“The modal is already six times less polluting than road transport. We need balanced parameters, which do not make the growth of Brazilian naval industry unfeasible,” Muniz ponders.
The survey listened to 195 companies from 29 industrial sectors, distributed throughout the country.
