Introduction:
The economic development and performance of the Manaus Free Trade Zone hinge significantly on the private ports located in the capital of Amazonas. These ports serve as critical entry points for cargo ships bringing in raw materials from across the globe to supply the region’s industries.
In recent years, the Amazon’s vast inland waterway network—Brazil’s most important—has faced increasingly severe droughts, which have hindered the arrival of cargo vessels.
This challenge has been met with strategic planning and investment, ensuring the preservation of jobs and the continued flow of goods essential to the regional economy.

Interviews:
Leonardo Queiroz dos Santos, Operations Planning Manager – Superterminais
Karla Martins, Economist

Executive Production
JULIANA FONTES

Editing and Finalization
ALEXANDRE ALMEIDA

Production and Direction
AMAZON AGENCY

Time:
TP: 05'00"

Text:

"The port is directly connected to Manaus' infrastructure. On average, we handle 200,000 kilograms per year, which is equivalent to roughly 100,000 containers. A large portion comes from Europe and Asia."

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"Of Brazil’s economically viable waterway network, 80% is located in the Amazon region. In this context, the ports in the capital and in the countryside—primarily Itacoatiara—are responsible for most of that activity."

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Leonardo Queiroz dos Santos, Operations Planning Manager – Superterminais
"The main exports are raw materials for electronics and plastics. These are used to manufacture products in the Free Trade Zone, resulting in finished goods like televisions, refrigerators, and more."
"Today, the terminal is directly linked to a primary customs zone. It handles direct imports in coordination with shipping companies, bringing in raw materials for manufacturing in Manaus and exporting finished products directly by ship or through multimodal logistics."

– Ambient sound (trucks) –

"River transport is the most efficient mode, allowing for greater container and cargo capacity compared to road or air transport, which have their limitations. For example, we can bring in an average of 1,200 to 1,500 containers. To achieve that by truck, we would need 1,200 to 1,500 trucks just to move the same volume of goods to the Free Trade Zone."
"Today, capacity varies depending on the specifications of each shipping company, but on average, we handle between 1,000 and 1,500 containers per ship operating with us."

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Karla Martins, Economist:
"To supply our Free Trade Zone with materials and equipment—both the inputs for production lines and the outflow of goods—all of this passes through these ports. So they play a crucial role in our economy, contributing to both direct and indirect employment and accounting for the volume of cargo imported and exported through here."

"The Manaus Free Trade Zone accounts for a significant share of the region’s GDP. Aside from the service sector, which is the largest contributor to our GDP, much of the activity is tied to the Free Trade Zone. In this regard, the ports are vital, with 53% of imported goods that support the zone arriving through them, and 65% of our exports also depend on these ports. That means 53% of exports and 65% of imports flow through the ports that support the Manaus industrial hub."

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Karla Martins, Economist
"Climate change impacts the state’s economy in several ways. One of them is the droughts that affect the rivers, hindering the arrival of materials critical to our industries."

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Leonardo Queiroz dos Santos, Operations Planning Manager – Superterminais
"We had 72 days of halted operations at the terminal, unable to receive raw materials for the Manaus Free Trade Zone."

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Leonardo Queiroz dos Santos, Operations Planning Manager – Superterminais
"We mitigated the impact through an improvised structure set up in another city. The port’s private network invested R$ 55 million in infrastructure in Itacoatiara, where we even stimulated the local economy—hotels, maintenance services, equipment purchases, and more—to ensure continued supply to the Free Trade Zone."

Karla Martins, Economist
"This mode of transport is the natural fit for our region and must be respected. Actions to mitigate the damage caused by a historic drought—such as river dredging to ease navigation—are essential to keep production flowing through the ports."

– Soundtrack –

Karla Martins, Economist
"A direct benefit of the ports, beyond the direct jobs, is the indirect employment they generate. A port like this one not only employs the people working here but also boosts related sectors, such as food services, uniform supply, and other industries that support port operations."

Leonardo Queiroz dos Santos, Operations Planning Manager – Superterminais
"We hold AQUA certification, which classifies us as a Green Port, meaning we are highly sustainable. We have the world’s first three electric gantry cranes, which have reduced CO₂ emissions and significantly decreased our consumption of hydraulic oil over the year."

Karla Martins, Economist
"Technically speaking, even though road transport has its advantages, ports remain the most viable option for the Amazon region, especially considering that we account for 80% of Brazil’s waterway network."

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