Ports in Brazil and Belgium establish partnership to create a green corridor for e-fuels

In a strategic move towards global decarbonization, Brazil and Belgium announced a partnership to create a green maritime corridor for e-fuels between the Port of Açu and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, with operations expected to begin before 2030. The agreement, formalized through a letter of intent signed in Rio de Janeiro, has the potential to establish the world's first major e-fuel export route, positioning Brazil as a key player in the new economy of hydrogen and sustainable synthetic fuels.

A strategic route between South America and Europe

The project is the result of a pre-feasibility study conducted by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and the Global Maritime Forum (GMF), presented during the Oceans of Opportunity Summit, which brought together leaders from the port, maritime, energy, and financial sectors to discuss the future of maritime decarbonization in Brazil. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges, one of the largest industrial hubs in Europe, plans to import 6 to 10 million tons of green ammonia per year by 2030—the equivalent of 1.2 to 1.5 million tons of hydrogen—a demand that could be met by production projects at the Port of Açu, on the coast of Rio de Janeiro state.

According to the study, the Açu-Antwerp corridor presents significant commercial and environmental advantages, potentially achieving cost parity with fossil fuels thanks to new incentives from the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This initiative reinforces Brazil's role as a strategic supplier of clean energy to Europe and marks a concrete advance in the integration of global green hydrogen and e-fuel chains, paving the way for a new era of international cooperation in favor of the energy transition.