Belgian Consortium Moves Closer to Securing Argentina’s Strategic Waterway Concession
Belgium’s Jan De Nul and Argentina’s Servimagnus have been recommended for the concession of the Paraná-Paraguay Waterway, one of South America’s most important trade corridors and a critical route for Mercosur exports.
A consortium formed by Belgian dredging giant Jan De Nul and Argentine company Servimagnus has moved a step closer to securing the concession for Argentina’s Paraná-Paraguay Waterway, following the government’s recommendation to award the contract after the evaluation process.
The decision marks a key milestone in one of the most closely watched infrastructure and logistics tenders in Latin America. The waterway, officially known as the Vía Navegable Troncal, is the main maritime export corridor for Argentina and a vital logistics route for Mercosur trade flows.
According to Argentine authorities, the Jan De Nul–Servimagnus proposal obtained the highest overall evaluation score and was recommended for pre-award status. The process now enters a review period during which competing bidders may submit objections before a final contract award is confirmed.
The consortium prevailed over Belgian rival DEME, while a proposal submitted by Brazil’s DTA Engenharia was deemed inadmissible during the evaluation stage.
The concession is considered one of the most strategic infrastructure contracts in Argentina. The waterway handles approximately 80% of the country’s agro-industrial exports and serves as a key logistics corridor connecting Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Uruguay with international markets through the Atlantic Ocean.
The new concession framework includes responsibility for dredging, maintenance, signaling and operational management of the navigation channel. The contract is expected to run for 25 years, with the possibility of an extension, and is designed to support long-term improvements in navigability and logistics efficiency.
Jan De Nul is already a familiar player in the Argentine market, having participated in the maintenance of the waterway for decades. The company is one of the world’s largest dredging and maritime engineering firms and has maintained a significant presence in Argentina’s port and logistics sector.
For Europe, the project highlights the continued role of European infrastructure companies in developing strategic transport assets across Latin America. Belgian firms, in particular, have built a strong position in the region’s port, dredging and maritime infrastructure sectors.
The outcome is also being closely monitored by agricultural exporters, logistics operators and shipping companies, as the efficiency of the waterway directly impacts transportation costs and the competitiveness of South American exports.
Industry observers believe the modernization and long-term management of the corridor could improve trade flows and strengthen Argentina’s position as a leading agricultural exporter.
The selection of Jan De Nul and Servimagnus reinforces the importance of European expertise in Latin American infrastructure and places a Belgian-led consortium at the center of one of the region’s most strategic logistics corridors.
