“Drought rate” impacts navigation and could generate shortages in Amazonas, warns Fieam

Exportation and importation

According to an expert, the ports of Amazonas may stop operating due to the high amount being charged

Manaus (AM) — Charging exorbitant amounts in fees is impacting the navigation and export of products in Amazonas, with risks of shortages, in the case of fuel and food destined for Manaus. During the drought period, pilot companies began charging the “Drought Tax”, with amounts that can reach up to R$800,000, according to the Federation of Industries of the State of Amazonas (Fieam).

Pilotage is the port service, generally available for large vessels, in order to keep traffic free and safe. In Amazonas, the Madeira River region, specifically in Itacoatiara, is where the large ports in the grain area are located, transporting containers and fuel destined for Manaus, with pilots operating.

Pilotage companies are regulated, but there is no monitoring of practice charges. According to the president of Fieam, Antonio Silva, this allows actors in the sector to take advantage of the situation, imposing abusive charges. “Ship navigation is already being impacted, with charges for the so-called ‘dry tax’, which have increased logistical costs,” he points out.

According to trade specialist Mário Pierre Filho, the increase in this rate occurred from the month of August, a dry period, a time that the Amazonian economy is already losing due to the decline of the rivers. In previous years, the fee for pilotage companies was around R$70,000.

“At this moment, when we are suffering this drought, one of the biggest droughts here in our region, overnight, from an average of R$108 thousand that they charged, it went to R$836 thousand per ship. In other words, we don’t understand why the value was so high. This value makes the operation of our ports unfeasible. If this becomes unfeasible, it will directly impact food security in our region”,

explains the expert.

Due to the drought, ships cannot operate at maximum capacity in the ports of Amazonas, mainly in the ports of Itacoatiara and Manaus. According to Pierre, with the new charge there is a possibility that Amazonas will be emptied.

“We receive corn, soybeans and wheat at the ports and much of it is for export, meaning Brazil loses competitiveness abroad. Not to mention the problem of regional products, which will have an increased price, obviously, because companies have to pay this fee to pilotage companies”,

completed.

Fieam has already contacted the Navy to reverse the situation. “Ports may stop operating due to the high amount being charged by pilots“, explains Pierre.

Measurements

In a letter sent to the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq), this week, the president of Fieam, Antonio Silva, called for actions to mitigate the costs of transporting cargo on the rivers of the Amazon Basin, during the seasonal low tide. The letter was also sent to the Command of the 9th Naval District and the Port Authority.

Silva asks that the competent powers urgently articulate a response to society in order to promote economic balance for waterway users, curbing the practice of abusive prices by system actors. Such as: determination or formal indication of the navigation channel for ships passing through the Madeira River inlet; carrying out constant monitoring of the draft (depth of the port), or allowing and approving actions by users of the sector in order to monitor and monitor the channel and ensure safe passage of ships; and curbing abusive charging practices due to the lack of actions by the powers whose function is to guarantee safe navigation and a competitive and fair economic environment.

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