Port of Santos breaks container handling record for the semester

In June, the Port of Santos increased its share in Brazil’s trade flow to 29.9% (Disclosure/APS)

The first half of 2025 at the Port of Santos was marked by a 7.8% increase in container handling compared to 2024. A total of 2.8 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) passed through the Santos quay in the first six months of this year, up from 2.6 million in the first half of 2024.

Another highlight of the semester was the volume of unloading operations (imports and cabotage), which grew by 1.2% year-over-year. This year, 22.84 million tonnes were unloaded, compared to 22.57 million in 2024.

Export operations, on the other hand, recorded a 1.7% decline, reflecting the decrease in solid bulk vegetable cargoes. A total of 65.49 million tonnes were shipped in 2025, compared to 66.60 million the previous year.

Overall, the result remained stable, with a drop of less than 1% (88.30 million tonnes versus 89.18 million in 2024).

Monthly performance As with the semester, June 2025 set a record for container handling, despite a decline in the overall volume. A total of 511.2 thousand TEU were handled, compared to 439.6 thousand in June 2024 — an increase of 16.3%.

The month also saw an increase in the volume of incoming cargo and a decline in outbound cargo. On the inbound side, 4.19 million tonnes were registered, up from 4.07 million in June 2024 — an increase of 3%. Outbound flows totaled 11.84 million tonnes, down from 12.26 million in June 2024 — a 3.45% decrease. Altogether, 16.04 million tonnes were handled, the second-best result ever for the month, despite a 1.8% drop compared to the same month last year.

In June, the Port of Santos increased its share in Brazil’s trade flow to 29.9%, the highest percentage in the last four years. The second-largest share belongs to the Port of Paranaguá (7.7%), followed by the Port of Itaguaí (5%).

Other highlights Soy (both grain and meal) continues to be the cargo with the highest volume at the Port of Santos, reaching 29.61 million tonnes in the semester — up 2.6% from 2024. Sugar ranks second (8.83 million tonnes, down 26.8%), followed by pulp — which has been gaining ground at the port — at 4.71 million tonnes (an increase of 21.4%).