The Administrative Commission of the Río de la Plata (CARP) has released the economic bids for the dredging and maintenance of the Martín García Channel, and the figures revealed a strategic surprise. The Belgian company Jan De Nul, which already holds a dominant position in the Paraná-Paraguay Waterway, has once again gained ground by submitting the most competitive bid for this vital route.

The Numbers Behind the Dispute

The key point of the tender was the significant disparity in the values presented, demonstrating Jan De Nul’s aggressive bet not to cede even one meter of regional navigation:

• Jan De Nul’s bid: The company submitted a proposal of US$ 104.9 million.
• Boskalis’ bid: Its competitor presented a higher figure, reaching US$ 137.8 million.

This difference of nearly US$ 33 million not only represents a considerable economic gap but also positions Jan De Nul with a competitive advantage that will be very difficult for the CARP to overlook in the award criteria.

What Does This Bid Mean for Regional Logistics?

For the agro-export complex of San Lorenzo and Greater Rosario, the maintenance of the Martín García Channel is the “key” that allows vessels to sail fully loaded toward the ocean. The fact that the tender is being decided by such a large price difference carries important implications:

• Dominance of the value chain: Jan De Nul is not only seeking the contract — it is pursuing vertical integration of logistics. By winning the Martín García contract, the company secures operational control from the ports of the Industrial Belt all the way to the open sea, allowing it to optimize its own operational costs and dredging fleet.
• Barrier to entry: With a bid of US$ 104.9 million, the company sets a price ceiling that acts as a barrier for other international competitors. It is a strategy of technical dumping or cost efficiency that makes it difficult for new players to enter the Argentine market.
• Security and continuity: Although lower than its rival’s, the offered value guarantees exporters operational continuity. At a time when the agro-export complex needs fluidity to ship grains and by-products, having an operator that knows the terrain (due to its experience in the Waterway) provides many with operational peace of mind — beyond concerns about market concentration.

The Message to the Market

The value presented by Jan De Nul is no coincidence. It is a powerful message: the company is willing to adjust its profit margins in exchange for maintaining strategic control over the two most important navigable arteries for the export of Argentine production. While the official award confirmation is still pending, the logistics sector is watching how the Belgian company consolidates a true de facto monopoly over national dredging operations.

er the two most important navigable arteries for the export of Argentine production. While the official award confirmation is still pending, the logistics sector is watching how the Belgian company consolidates a true de facto monopoly over national dredging operations.