José Antunes Sobrinho: the shipbuilding industry is strategic and needs long-term action.

247 - The Brazilian shipbuilding industry has once again entered the national development spotlight with new contracts, a projected increase in jobs, and the defense of a long-term policy to prevent the sector from repeating the "chicken flight" of previous cycles. In an interview with TV 247, the businessman and engineer José Antunes Sobrinho, a shareholder in the Novapar group (which includes Engevix and Ecovix), stated that "a sector like the shipbuilding industry cannot continue with its ups and downs as it did in the past" and needs predictability, planning, and consistency.

The interview, conducted by the journalist Leonardo Attuch, was also based on Antunes' speech in Rio Grande (RS), at January 19th, during an event related to orders for the transpetro and Petrobraswith the presence of President Lulawhen the businessman celebrated the reopening of the shipyard and the social impact of job creation.

Local content, Petrobras, and the logic of the production chain.

When questioned about the recurring argument that "it would be cheaper to buy ships in China," Antunes responded that the debate needs to consider productive sovereignty, employment, and industrial integration. He argued that oil, being a national resource, should drive national industry and increase job creation. "If you're extracting a public good, which is your country's oil, nothing is more logical than you pulling the strings.".

He explained that Ecovix is ​​reopening the shipyard with a focus on complete vessels, no longer on platform hulls as in the previous cycle. According to Antunes, the shipyard's original project was linked to a high expectation of local content, which has been reduced over the years. “When the shipyard was conceived, it was designed with 75% local content. Later, this policy was changed to 25%. And for these ships that we are building there today, the policy is 50%.”, said.

Regarding the demand outlook, he cited Petrobras' fleet renewal plan: "Petrobras' strategic plan includes 48 support vessels... in addition to a series of offshore platforms that will have some local content."He also mentioned the possibility of revitalizing platforms, pointing to the shipyard's physical capacity for this type of service.

Lava Jato, destruction of reputations, and the slow reconstruction of engineering.

The interview also touched upon the impact of the lawfare cycle on the sector. Antunes reported that the shipyard's shutdown and the collapse of the business environment involved cancellations and a lengthy period of judicial reorganization. "We entered judicial reorganization, remained in RJ for 8 years, and exited it in 2025."He explained that the restart is happening "almost from scratch" in terms of operations and contracts.

He was direct in characterizing what he considers the most destructive mechanism of that period: "The main problem with Lava Jato... was immediately after the operation was set up, the moral destruction of the companies in the media."Next, he described the cascade of effects: "You automatically closed off the credit... locked up the collateral... and on top of that, the market turned against you."For the businessman, the combination of reputational damage, blocked financing, and difficulties obtaining guarantees threw entire companies into ruin.

Antunes also recounted how he decided to move forward despite the trauma and insecurity. "I thought about it a lot and decided that a company with such a long history... shouldn't die."He said, while recounting the corporate reorganization in 2016 and the decision to keep the group alive. According to him, there were losses and a reduction in scale, but the trend is towards recovery, even if far from its peak: "It is recovering, yes, but not nearly to what it was in the past... maybe 20% currently.".

When discussing asset sales, the interview touched on the change of control of stakes and the exit of positions that were previously under the group's control. This topic was cited as part of the adverse environment and economic consequences of the period, which impacted engineering and the national investment capacity.

Protectionism in the world, China as "unbeatable," and the geopolitical dispute.

Antunes stated that the ultraliberal model has lost strength globally and that the protection of strategic supply chains has become the norm — including in the United States. "That 100% liberal policy... it's over... it's a model that doesn't serve society.", said. 

Regarding China, the businessman drew a historical contrast. He mentioned that he had been traveling to the country since the late 1990s and said he was impressed by the recent transformation in productivity and automation. "It's another country... all the factories are robotized."He stated, concluding categorically: "Competing with Chinese industry is unbeatable for any country."For him, the path involves protectionist policies "up to a limit" and, simultaneously, attracting local production, since China itself has started to install factories near consumer markets to reduce barriers.

In his geopolitical analysis, Antunes attributed to President of the United States, Donald Trump, a disruptive role: "President Trump is changing the world's economic order like no one has in the last 50 years."He believes that new connections and economic blocs are forming, with greater weight given to countries like India and Indonesia, and a relative reduction in European influence.

Interest rates, credit, and the "real economy" as a measure of efficiency.

Finally, Antunes reiterated the phrase that drew applause at the event in Rio Grande — "real economy" as a synonym for employment — and criticized what he considers a structural imbalance in the country. He described the situation of high real interest rates as "absurd," arguing that it stifles businesses and blocks investments. "The situation in Brazil today, with real interest rates above 10%... it's absurd, isn't it? It's drowning businesses.".

He argued that credit is the basis of growth: "Capitalism is credit first""He said, quoting Professor José Márcio Rego. And he projected a scenario of acceleration if interest rates fall:" "If you lower it from 15% to 11%... you're going to have an explosion in the Brazilian economy."Along the same lines, he reinforced his criticism of financialization: "Interest rates do not create jobs".

The final statement ties together the central point of the interview: without compatible planning and funding, reindustrialization becomes hostage to cycles and disputes. However, with state policy, local content, and credit, the shipbuilding industry tends to once again become a driver of jobs, technology, and productive sovereignty—exactly what Antunes argues when he says that the sector can no longer depend on "ups and downs," but on a sustained national project.