Entities from the sugarcane, cotton, coffee, and corn ethanol sectors have expressed their support for opening the Tecon Santos 10 auction.

Four important entities in Brazilian agribusiness — the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (CECAFÉ), the Logistics Committee of the National Cotton Exporters Association (ANEA), the Deliberative Council of the Sugar Exporters Association (AEXA), and the National Union of Corn Ethanol (UNEM) — have expressed their support for the immediate opening of the Tecon Santos 10 auction. This position was presented during a hearing in the Chamber of Deputies on November 25th and reinforced in an official statement from UNEM. These organizations represent supply chains that together move tens of billions of dollars in exports and depend directly on the logistical efficiency of the Port of Santos, the main gateway for Brazilian agricultural production. ANEA emphasized that decisions regarding Tecon Santos 10 should follow technical criteria and reflect the reality faced by port users. The 17 member companies of the organization, responsible for more than 90% of Brazilian cotton exports, advocate for transparency, predictability, and assertiveness in the process, essential for a sector that totaled more than US$4 billion in exports in 2024. AEXA highlighted that Brazil remains the world's largest sugar producer, with almost 44 million tons in the 24/25 harvest, of which 80% are exported. According to the organization, the Port of Santos is no longer keeping pace with the growth in production and needs to expand its capacity. AEXA expressed full support for Minister Antônio Anastasia's understanding, including the divestment guideline for operators already working in the port, and argues that the auction should have taken place a long time ago. CECAFÉ warned of the accumulated losses suffered by the sector due to current operational insufficiency, including R$98 million in detention and additional storage and thousands of containers held throughout the year. The organization stated that public debate needs to be based on data and technical analysis, not narratives, and reiterated its confidence in the opinions of ANTAQ, TCU, and CADE. For the sector, opening the auction is fundamental to recovering logistical efficiency and competitiveness. UNEM expressed unconditional support for holding a broad and unrestricted auction, considering that only full competition among the largest global operators guarantees efficiency, competitive prices, and quality services for port users. Created in 2017, the organization represents companies that gave rise to one of the country's most dynamic industries—corn ethanol—which revolutionized biofuel production and boosted the animal protein sector. UNEM emphasized that opening international markets depends directly on maritime logistics and that the Port of Santos is crucial for the competitiveness of ethanol and its co-products. The organization argues that unrestricted participation, including by operators already active in the port, increases investment, modernization, and integration with global routes. For UNEM, a broad bidding process, as pointed out in Minister Anastasia's vote and validated by the TCU's technical rigor, is the only way to guarantee efficient services, reduce the cost of doing business in Brazil, and increase the competitiveness of national production. The four entities reaffirm that the immediate opening of the Tecon Santos 10 auction, in a broad and technically sound manner, is essential to ensure logistical efficiency, expand the capacity of the Port of Santos, reduce operational costs, and guarantee that Brazilian agribusiness—responsible for almost half of the trade balance—continues to grow with competitiveness, predictability, and adherence to the public interest. 

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.