Infrastructure in Brazil Emerging Consumption Needs Analysis

Impact of Behavior Changes

The infrastructure sector in Brazil is undergoing significant behavioral shifts driven primarily by a substantial increase in private investment and a notable rise in demand across key segments. These changes are influencing consumption behavior and, consequently, impacting the value chain analysis.

The surge in private investment, which constituted approximately 78% of the total infrastructure investment in 2023 and is projected to grow further in 2024 and 2025, signifies a decreased reliance on public funding and a greater involvement of private capital in financing large-scale infrastructure projects. This behavioral change among financial players leads to an increased focus on structuring "bankable" projects that are attractive to private investors. Consequently, there is a greater demand for specialized consulting services in financial, legal, and technical areas during the Planning & Development stage. In the Financing & Investment stage, this shift necessitates more complex financial structuring and increases the importance of capital markets and instruments like debentures. For the Engineering & Construction phase, increased private capital is driving a higher volume of projects, potentially leading to a greater emphasis on efficiency and technology adoption to meet private sector timelines and budgets. In the Operation & Maintenance stage, private concessionaires are strongly focused on operational efficiency, service quality, and cost management to ensure profitability and meet long-term contractual obligations.

Concurrently, the growing demand for infrastructure services from both B2C and B2B customers, evidenced by record operational volumes in ports, railways, and increasing passenger traffic in airports, is a clear indicator of changing consumption patterns. This growing demand directly highlights critical needs for new infrastructure projects and capacity expansion, informing feasibility studies and project scope during Planning & Development. It also provides confidence to investors regarding future revenue streams and project viability, particularly for revenue-generating assets like toll roads, airports, and ports. The increased utilization of infrastructure assets directly translates to a need for increased capacity, enhanced maintenance, and potential upgrades during the Operation & Maintenance phase to meet service levels and avoid bottlenecks. Growing demand, alongside private investment, creates a sustained need for construction services, materials, and equipment in the Engineering & Construction phase.

These interconnected changes are influencing consumer behavior by potentially leading to improved service quality and efficiency in infrastructure use due to the private sector's focus on performance. Increased investment and capacity can also address historical bottlenecks, potentially changing how and where consumers and businesses utilize infrastructure services. For example, improved logistics infrastructure (ports, railways, highways) can impact the efficiency and cost of transporting goods, influencing business decisions and ultimately consumer prices and availability of products. More efficient urban mobility infrastructure can impact commuting patterns and choices.

Detailed report on emerging consumption needs.

Based on the analysis of current behavior changes in the Brazilian infrastructure sector, several emerging consumption needs can be identified, driven by the increased private investment and growing demand:

1. Demand for Higher Quality and More Efficient Services: With increased private sector participation and a focus on profitability and performance under concession agreements, there is an emerging need and expectation from consumers (both B2C and B2B) for higher quality, more reliable, and efficient infrastructure services. This includes better maintained roads, more punctual and comfortable public transport, more efficient cargo handling in ports and railways, and more reliable utility provision. The private sector's drive for efficiency aims to meet this need and improve customer satisfaction to ensure revenue streams.
2. Need for Increased Capacity and Modernization: The record and growing operational volumes in key transportation segments underscore an immediate need for increased capacity and modernization of existing infrastructure to avoid bottlenecks and meet rising demand. This translates into a consumption need for expanded infrastructure networks (e.g., more highway lanes, larger port terminals, increased railway capacity) and the adoption of modern technologies to improve flow and efficiency.
3. Requirement for Integrated and Intermodal Solutions: As cargo and passenger volumes grow, the limitations of poorly integrated transport modes become more apparent. There is an emerging consumption need for better intermodal integration to facilitate seamless and efficient movement of people and goods across different transport types (road, rail, port, air). This requires investment in integrated logistics platforms and transfer points.
4. Demand for Technologically Advanced and Digitalized Services: The global trend towards digitalization is also influencing infrastructure consumption. There is an emerging need for technologically advanced services within infrastructure, such as smart mobility solutions, real-time traffic information, online service platforms (e.g., for paying tolls, tracking cargo), and potentially autonomous or semi-autonomous systems in the future. The digital infrastructure environment is already shaping consumer behavior by emphasizing speed and convenience.
5. Growing Importance of Sustainability and Environmental Considerations: While not explicitly detailed as a direct consumer "need" in the context provided, there is a global trend and increasing awareness regarding sustainability. As infrastructure projects have significant environmental and social impacts, there is a growing underlying need for infrastructure development and operation that incorporates sustainable practices, minimizes environmental impact, and considers social well-being. This can influence public acceptance and support for projects. The construction sector in Brazil is already seeing a shift towards sustainable building practices.
6. Need for Predictable and Stable Service Provision: For both businesses relying on infrastructure for logistics and operations, and individual consumers depending on utilities and transport for daily life, there is a fundamental need for predictable and stable service provision. Challenges like energy crises highlight the vulnerability of current systems and underscore the need for more resilient infrastructure.

Table of potential impact of these needs.

Emerging Consumption Need	Potential Impact on Value Chain Stages
Higher Quality and More Efficient Services	Planning & Development: Increased emphasis on designing projects with high service standards and efficiency metrics. Financing & Investment: Projects demonstrating potential for high operational efficiency may be more attractive to investors. Engineering & Construction: Demand for higher quality materials and construction techniques; focus on building for operational longevity and ease of maintenance. Operation & Maintenance: Direct impact; requires significant investment in technology, training, and maintenance programs; drives innovation in operational management.
Increased Capacity and Modernization	Planning & Development: Identification and prioritization of expansion and upgrade projects. Financing & Investment: Need for significant capital mobilization for large-scale expansion projects. Engineering & Construction: High volume of construction activity focused on expanding existing infrastructure and incorporating modern designs. Operation & Maintenance: Management of larger and more complex networks; need for advanced systems to handle increased volumes.
Integrated and Intermodal Solutions	Planning & Development: Focus on planning projects that connect different transport modes. Financing & Investment: Investment in intermodal terminals and logistics platforms. Engineering & Construction: Construction of integrated facilities and necessary connecting infrastructure. Operation & Maintenance: Development of integrated operational management systems and coordination between different transport operators.
Technologically Advanced and Digitalized Services	Planning & Development: Inclusion of technology requirements in project design (e.g., smart systems, digital platforms). Financing & Investment: Investment in technology solutions and companies providing them. Engineering & Construction: Installation of advanced equipment and systems; need for skilled labor in technology integration. Operation & Maintenance: Implementation and management of digital platforms, data analytics for optimization, and potentially new service delivery models.
Sustainability and Environmental Considerations	Planning & Development: Stringent environmental and social impact assessments; design for sustainability (e.g., renewable energy integration, waste management). Financing & Investment: Growing interest in "green" financing and investments in sustainable infrastructure. Engineering & Construction: Use of sustainable materials and construction practices. Operation & Maintenance: Implementation of environmentally friendly operational procedures; monitoring and reporting on environmental performance.
Predictable and Stable Service Provision	Planning & Development: Emphasis on designing resilient infrastructure systems. Financing & Investment: Risk assessment of service disruptions and resilience measures. Engineering & Construction: Building with redundancy and robust materials. Operation & Maintenance: Implementation of strong maintenance programs, emergency response plans, and investment in backup systems.

References

• Agência Gov. Com investimento recorde, infraestrutura brasileira evolui em dois anos e garante benefícios à população.
• Agência Gov. Movimentação em aeroportos cresce 6% em março e supera 23 milhões de passageiros no trimestre.
• Agência Gov. Movimentação nos portos apresenta melhor resultado da história para o mês de fevereiro.
• Agência Gov. Movimentação de carga geral atinge maior patamar dos últimos 18 anos.
• Agência iNFRA. Grandes empresas de infraestrutura unem-se em movimento para programas de longo prazo no setor.
• AEROIN. Aena informa recorde de passageiros em seus aeroportos e heliportos no Brasil e no mundo em 2024.
• CBIC. Lei das Concessões: Trinta anos de transformações e novos caminhos para a infraestrutura brasileira.
• EY. Investimento em infraestrutura deve registrar no Brasil o maior valor desde 2014.
• Fundação Getulio Vargas. Infraestrutura: investimentos crescem em 2024 | Blog do IBRE.
• Guia Marítimo. Movimentação de contêineres nos terminais portuários privados cresce 7,2% no primeiro semestre.
• ILOS. Movimentação portuária brasileira atinge novo recorde em 2024.
• Investor Avaliações. Infraestrutura 2025: R$ 250 Bilhões em Investimentos Privados.
• KPMG International. Panorama do Setor e Tendênciasem Infraestrutura no Brasil.
• OEC. Ranking aponta OEC como a maior construtora de infraestrutura do país - Notícias.
• Pinheiro Neto Advogados. Infraestrutura: oportunidades no Brasil.
• PORTAL ABCP. Brasil se aproximou de investimento recorde em infraestrutura em 2023, mas está longe do patamar ideal.
• Portal BE News. Concessões rodoviárias e a infraestrutura no Brasil.
• Portal Gov.br. Movimentação de passageiros nos aeroportos brasileiros continua a crescer no primeiro semestre de 2024.
• Portal Gov.br. Movimentação de carga ferroviária atinge maior nível em cinco anos.
• Transporte Moderno. Ferrovias brasileiras registram maior volume de cargas em seis anos.
• Transporte Moderno. Movimentação de carga por ferrovias bate recorde em 2024.
• VEJA. O superciclo de concessões em infraestrutura.
• World Bank. Brazil Overview: Development news, research, data.
• Hamilton Lane. Infrastructure Investments.
• NIC. Behaviour change and infrastructure beyond Covid-19.
• GNPW Group. Energy Crisis in Brazil: A Challenge that Persists until 2025.
• Argus Media. Viewpoint: Brazil to shake up gas supply in 2025 | Latest Market News.
• World Bank. Local Infrastructure and the Development of the Private Sector: Evidence from a Randomized Trial - Public Documents.
• World Bank. Behavioral Insights in Infrastructure Sectors - Open Knowledge Repository.
• ResearchGate. (PDF) MARKETING RESEARCH OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR IN A DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE ENVIRONMENT.
• GCM Grosvenor. The Infrastructure Landscape: Evolution, Growth and Opportunities.
• Frontiers. The Impact of Consumer Purchase Behavior Changes on the Business Model Design of Consumer Services Companies Over the Course of COVID-19.
• Brazil Construction Market Report- Q1 2025.
• European Platform on LCA | EPLCA. Consumer's behaviour in assessing environmental impact of consumption.