A Brazilian federal court has reinstated an order to restore access to the Santarém river port terminal operated by US agribusiness major Cargill, following days of disruption caused by Indigenous protests in northern Brazil.
According to a ruling signed late Wednesday by federal judge Shamyl Cipriano and seen by Reuters, authorities must ensure access to the terminal in Pará state, where demonstrators have been blocking truck traffic at the facility’s entrance.
The protests are linked to plans to dredge the Tapajós River to allow larger volumes of grains such as soybeans and corn to be transported for export. Indigenous groups argue that the dredging project could have significant environmental and social impacts on their communities.
Last Friday, a federal court had ordered the government to take action within 48 hours to remove the protesters and restore access to the terminal. However, federal prosecutors appealed the decision, stating that it failed to comply with rules set by the National Council of Justice, which require direct participation of Indigenous peoples and mediation hearings before any forced removal.
The appeal led to the ruling being overturned on Sunday. Wednesday’s decision to reinstate the order marks a legal victory for Cargill, although federal prosecutors said they are still reviewing the latest court determination.
Industry body Amport, which represents port terminal operators in the Amazon basin, welcomed the reinstated ruling, stating that it recognizes the essential nature of port infrastructure and the economic harm caused by prolonged shutdowns.
Meanwhile, local media reported on Thursday that Indigenous demonstrators had also “intercepted” barges operating for Cargill on the Tapajós River near Santarém, escalating tensions around grain export flows in the region.
Cargill declined to comment on the developments.
