The Government of Paraná in Brazil is to organize an auction for the Nova Ferroeste cargo corridor PPP project in Q4 2022. The auction is expected to take place between October and December. The objective of the project is to collect cargo from Paraguay and Argentina.

The project involves the development of a rail corridor from Paranaguá to Maracaju with a branch line between Cascavel and Foz do Iguaçu. It also includes a 263-kilometer branch between Cascavel and Chapecó. The total investment in the project is BRL35 billion (US$7.31 billion), out of which the planned investment for the branch to Chapecó is BRL 6.8 billion (US$1.42 billion).

According to the feasibility assessments for the Ferroeste project, the movement might reach 38 million tonnes in the first year of operation. The railway is anticipated to start construction 24 months after the auction. The connection between Cascavel and the Port of Paranaguá is scheduled to be completed by 2030.