Port of Santos handles 167 million tons of cargo

Last month, 464.7 thousand TEUs were recorded at the Port of Santos, 13.5% more than in 2023 (Vanessa Rodrigues/Arquivo AT)

The Port of Santos handled over 167.1 million tons of cargo from January to November 2024, a 6% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Exports totaled 122.9 million tons, a rise of 3.8%, while imports reached 44.1 million tons, up 12.5%.

“The performance reflects strengthened infrastructure, improved operational efficiency, and the confidence of exporters and importers. This result brings us closer to an annual record”, said the President of the Santos Port Authority (APS), Anderson Pomini, in a statement.

Despite the positive year-to-date result, total cargo throughput in November dropped to 14.2 million tons, a 10% decrease compared to the same month last year. “Primarily due to reduced corn and soybean grain shipments”, APS stated.

Containers In the container segment, however, throughput reached unprecedented levels. In November, 464.7 thousand TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) were recorded, a 13.5% increase compared to November 2023, representing the best performance ever for the month. Year-to-date, the volume reached 5.01 million TEUs, a 15.2% increase, marking a historic record.

Key sectors Agribusiness products played a central role in the port's performance. The highest volumes of cargo included soybean grains, with 27.8 million tons handled; sugar, 25.5 million tons; and corn, 14.1 million tons.

With 25.5 million tons, sugar saw a 27.6% increase. Coffee grains grew by 50.3%, reaching 2.3 million tons. Meat shipments rose by 35.4%, totaling 2.4 million tons, while pulp increased by 10.6%, with 7.39 million tons handled.

Bulk cargo In the solid bulk segment, there was a slight decrease of 0.7% in total volume (85.6 million tons). Liquid bulk registered 18 million tons, up 1.9%, with notable increases in gasoline (+49.3%) and diesel (+4.6%). General cargo totaled 8.7 million tons, growing by 9.4%, with pulp accounting for 7.5% of the total.

From January to November 2024, the Port of Santos received 5,110 vessels, a 3.3% increase compared to 2023.

Trade flow The Port of Santos’ share in Brazil’s trade flow increased from 28.5% to 29.0% during the period. The volume handled reached USD 161.6 million.

China remains Brazil's main trade partner, accounting for 27.3% of the country's transactions conducted through the Santos port in 2024.

São Sebastião sets record The Port of São Sebastião, on the North Coast, set a new record. Data from the Companhia Docas de São Sebastião (CDSS) shows that over 1.4 million tons were handled between January and November 2024, surpassing the historical record of 1 million tons in the entire year of 2023.

Key cargoes include sugar, soda ash (an essential raw material in glass and packaging production), and petroleum coke, primarily destined for European countries. This year, São Sebastião resumed coffee exports after 60 years without handling this symbolic cargo for São Paulo State and Brazil.

“This growth is the result of a series of operational and infrastructure improvements that have ensured greater efficiency in international cargo transportation”, stated the State Secretariat for Environment, Infrastructure, and Logistics (Semil), which oversees CDSS, in a note.

Additionally, new truck parking areas and berths for ships are under construction, increasing the port’s capacity. “This outcome reflects the continuous and growing development of the Port of São Sebastião. We are attracting more cargo and ships”, said CDSS Director-President Ernesto Sampaio.

Road access The new Tamoios Highway, the main access to the North Coast, and the inauguration of the Contorno Sul this month ensure greater efficiency in cargo transportation, making the Port of São Sebastião an increasingly attractive option for operators, according to CDSS.