Contest for Latin American Port Infrastructure: The United States Intensifies Its Counter to China’s Logistics Expansion

On March 5, 2026, Kevin Murakami, U.S. Consul General in São Paulo, spoke out against a 25-year concession of the Tecon Santos 10 port in Brazil to China, which would involve expected investments exceeding $1 billion.

Tecon Santos 10 is far more than a local infrastructure project; it represents a potential key node in South America’s Atlantic logistics, integrated into the region’s largest port, Port of Santos, through which up to one-third of Brazil’s foreign trade flows.

Its strategic importance comes not just from volume but also from its role in global logistics. Santos acts as a hub for cargo from Brazil’s inland agricultural and industrial regions, linked by a wide network of roads and railways, allowing large-scale exports to Europe, Africa, and North America.