# Tecon Santos 10 Auction Set for Early March as Brazil Pushes R$6billion Port Expansion

*Government plans to publish tender in January after global roadshow as TCU clears model for Latin America’s largest container terminal concession.*

- Published: 2025-12-09
- Updated: 2025-12-10
- Section: Insights
- Tags: Antaq, Brazil economy, concessions, logistics, Maritime Trade, Port of Santos, Ports, tcu
- URL: https://brazilstockguide.com/insights/tecon-santos-10-auction-port-expansion-brazil/

![Santos-Guarujá tunnel funding](https://i0.wp.com/brazilstockguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025061818068_67189680096f7b1210b6aaf98247719773e09bdd0d9b2bdae1c4c60f22438846.webp?fit=768%2C446&ssl=1)

*TCU clears Santos-Guarujá tunnel funding (Image/Agência Gov)*

**By Brazil Stock Guide –** Brazil’s federal government plans to auction the **Tecon Santos 10** container terminal concession in the **first half of March**, following clearance by the country’s audit court, as part of a **R$ 6.4 billion ($1.3 billion)** expansion that will lift the Port of Santos’ container handling capacity by **50%**, according to the **Ministério de Portos e Aeroportos**.

The government expects to publish the tender documents in **January**, after completing an international roadshow with foreign embassies and global terminal operators. The auction will be overseen by **Antaq**, following final modeling adjustments recommended by the **Tribunal de Contas da União (TCU)**.

“Tecon Santos 10 will bring R$ 6.4 billion in investments and expand Santos’ container capacity by 50%, which is critical for Brazil’s exports and port efficiency,” said ports and airports minister **Silvio Costa Filho**, adding that construction is expected to generate **2,500 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs**. He said the ruling removes the last regulatory obstacle to moving forward with what the government is calling **the largest port auction in Brazil’s history**.

With the TCU decision concluded, the project now returns to the ministry for final technical adjustments before publication of the bid notice by the end of January, said **Alex Ávilla**. Significant interest is expected from both domestic and international operators, he said, in what is set to become **the most competitive port auction ever held in Brazil**.

One key feature of the final model is the inclusion of a **minimum concession fee (outorga mínima)**, adopted following TCU recommendations. The mechanism is designed to strike a balance between **investor attractiveness and guaranteed fiscal revenue for the federal government**, aligning upfront payments with the massive scale of the project.

The new terminal will occupy **621,000 square meters** and will be dedicated to **container and general cargo operations**. Once fully operational, Santos’ annual container handling capacity is expected to reach **nine million TEUs**, driven by the addition of **four deepwater berths** for large vessels.

Already the largest port complex in Latin America, the **Port of Santos** accounts for roughly **29% of Brazil’s total foreign trade** by volume. Under the concession model, the winning bidder will be selected based on the **highest upfront concession payment**, and the terminal will be granted under a **25-year operating contract**.

**Read more:** [Tecon Santos Auction Tradeoff](https://brazilstockguide.com/behind-the-lines/porto-santos-terminal-auction-shapes-brazil-shipping/)

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Source: Brazil Stock Guide, https://brazilstockguide.com/insights/tecon-santos-10-auction-port-expansion-brazil/