Technology, sustainable expansion, and inter-sector cooperation were the main highlights this Tuesday (22) at the opening of the 3rd Interlog Summit, composed of the XXVIII CNL – National Logistics Conference, organized by ABRALOG and the Intermodal South America Congress. The day’s agenda brought together strategic names from the logistics chain, e-commerce, and national infrastructure in panels that discussed paths for modernizing the sector and strengthening Brazil in global trade.
The panels highlighted, in an integrated manner, the need for joint action between innovation, investment, and governance to enhance national logistics competitiveness and position Brazil strategically in the global market.
Technology, expansion, and sustainability: the milestones of e-commerce presented by Mercado Livre at Intermodal 2025
During the 29th edition of Intermodal South America, Fernando Yunes, Senior Vice President and Leader of Mercado Livre in Brazil, presented an overview of e-commerce growth in the country and the key milestones expected to drive the sector in the coming years.
With a record of $45 billion in sales in 2023 and an annual growth rate of 38%, Mercado Livre solidifies its position as the undisputed leader in national e-commerce. According to Yunes, the sector still has room to grow, as online sales penetration in Brazil is 15%, while in other countries like the U.S. and China, the percentages are 21% and 50%, respectively.
Currently, the company has 17 logistics centers spread across the country and plans to reach 26 by the end of this year. With a network covering 95% of the national territory, Mercado Livre operates with ground and air fleets and heavily invests in sustainability—already with over 2,000 electric vehicles circulating in Brazil, responsible for last-mile deliveries.
Yunes highlighted technology as the main pillar supporting modern e-commerce. One example is the investment in 334 robots in distribution centers, optimizing goods flow and reducing physical effort for employees. ‘The robot collects the order from the shelf and takes it to the operator, speeding up the process and saving up to 70% in steps and physical effort for the team,’ he emphasized.
The executive also pointed to virtual and augmented reality as promising trends for personalizing the shopping experience, along with the positive impact that including product videos can have on platform conversion rates. ‘The shopping journey will become increasingly personalized. E-commerce verticals will align more with customer desires and behaviors. Pay attention to emerging trends and invest in new product presentation formats,’ the executive advised.
Public-private partnerships as a path for logistics development and national infrastructure
Collaboration between the public and private sectors was the focus of a special panel addressing a positive agenda for national infrastructure and transportation. With the presence of authorities and industry leaders, the debate reinforced the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) as the primary tool for advancing logistics and transportation in Brazil.
Participants in the discussion included Pedro Moreira, President of ABRALOG; Mariana Pescatori, Acting Minister of Ports and Airports; George Santoro, Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Transport; Vander Costa, President of CNT; and Ramon Alcaraz, CEO of JSL.
According to Mariana Pescatori, in 2024 alone, private initiatives invested over R$10 billion in the sector. She highlighted the effectiveness of port leasing auctions as mechanisms for attracting capital, alongside significant public investments—over R$1 billion in the same period.
The Acting Minister also drew attention to 100% public investments in waterways, which exceeded R$750 million in the last two years. ‘We are studying concession models for this mode, maintaining efficiency and stimulating its expansion,’ she stated. In the air sector, she pointed to challenges inherited from the pandemic, such as logistics chain restructuring, but emphasized that various projects and concessions are underway to support recovery.
Secretary George Santoro reinforced that the government has already scheduled 15 highway auctions and one railway auction, which, combined with existing investments, surpasses resources applied in the previous four years. ‘We resumed stalled projects, optimized contracts, and promoted legal security for new projects. Brazil’s logistics infrastructure is undergoing strong restructuring,’ he declared.
For Ramon Alcaraz of JSL, it is crucial for the sector to be prepared to respond to growing logistics demand and attentive to international scenario variations. ‘PPP is the best path to ensure modern, sustainable, and efficient infrastructure. The private sector is ready to collaborate,’ the executive affirmed.
On bottlenecks and challenges, participants cited the need for restructuring new routes to alleviate ground traffic, as data showed a 50% increase in vehicle fleets in recent years.
Closing the panel, Mariana Pescatori also mentioned progress in modernizing infrastructure legislation to facilitate contracts, enhance legal security, and attract more investors.
Geopolitics and foreign trade: challenges and opportunities in an unstable global scenario
Intermodal South America 2025 highlighted the growing influence of geopolitical factors on logistics chains and foreign trade strategies. Under the theme ‘Geopolitics and Opportunities for Foreign Trade Business,’ the debate brought together experts analyzing the impacts of current conflicts, trade disputes, and institutional weakening on global production and goods circulation dynamics.
Participants included Márcia Nejaim, Regional Representative of Apex Brasil; Alessandra Lopasso Ricci, CEO of Centaurea Logistics; and Denilde Holzhacker, Academic Director of ESPM.
Denilde Holzhacker contextualized the current scenario as a period of profound transformations, beginning with the Covid-19 pandemic and intensified by global political changes and conflicts, which have raised maritime transport costs and increased logistics insecurity. ‘International trade governance, once anchored in the WTO, is weakened,’ Denilde explained.
Márcia Nejaim reinforced this perspective by pointing to the weakening of multilateral institutions and the return of protectionist policies as threats to global economic growth. ‘We are facing a scenario unseen since the 1930s crisis in the U.S. Unpredictability, inflation in developed countries, and falling commodity prices create a challenging environment for foreign trade,’ she stated.
Despite the adverse context, participants highlighted opportunities to explore. Betting on services, technology, and sustainability was identified as a strategic path for countries aiming to maintain competitiveness internationally. Opening new markets for Brazil could also become a reality. ‘Brazil is advancing, for example, in importing animal protein to Japan—a door we’ve tried to open for years and only now achieved negotiations given the current scenario. Even amid tensions, there’s room for innovation and strengthening new sectors. The moment demands agility, global vision, and adaptability from companies and governments,’ concluded Márcia.
With over 500 exhibiting brands national and international, the Intermodal South America 2025 continues until Thursday (24) at Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo, showcasing the latest innovations and trends in logistics, intralogistics, transportation, foreign trade, and technology. Beyond the exhibition, the program includes over 40 hours of content, thematic panels, and interactive attractions promoting networking and strategic exchanges among professionals and companies. Admission is free, with over 46,000 visitors expected during the three-day event.
Service:
Intermodal South America – 29th Edition
Date: April 22–24, 2025.
Location: Distrito Anhembi.
Hours: 1 PM–9 PM.
More info: Click here
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