Trump’s tariff accelerates shipments at the Port of Santos as companies seek to bypass the tax

Last week, 49,400 tons of pulp were shipped for export from the Santos dock (Alexsander Ferraz/AT)

Companies exporting goods to the United States via the Port of Santos have ramped up shipments in recent days. According to the Santos Port Authority (APS), this indicates an effort to anticipate deliveries and avoid the 50% surcharge on Brazilian products, scheduled to take effect on August 1. The additional tariff was announced last Wednesday by U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to APS, the Port of Santos recorded a 96% increase in animal protein shipments via containers last week — when the extra tariff was announced — compared to the previous week. The highlights were beef, pork, and chicken, as well as offal. The U.S. is the second-largest buyer of these products from Brazil.

“Coffee exports, particularly to the United States, also rose by 17% during the same period”, explains APS president Anderson Pomini.

Another product heavily imported by the U.S. is pulp, with shipments totaling 49,400 tons last week. In the previous period, there were no pulp shipments.

“The Port of Santos accounts for 30% of Brazil’s trade flow, and the United States is our second-largest client. We’ve observed a rush from exporters to avoid the potential 50% tariff increase”, Pomini emphasizes.

Truck activity He also noted that truck traffic at the Port of Santos rose by around 70% in the same period. “The Port of Santos is Brazil’s main gateway to the world: 200 countries, 600 destinations. These figures serve as a barometer for the potential impact of the tariff announced by President Trump on Brazilian products.”

APS states that it is closely monitoring developments and the potential impacts should the measure come into effect. The port authority highlights that an investment plan is already underway, driven by the continually growing demand.

“These include access routes, deepening of the channel, and the Santos-Guarujá tunnel — investments totaling R\$ 12.5 billion in federal funds. We also have a project to expand the port’s legal area from the current 7.8 million square meters to more than 20 million square meters, precisely to meet the growing demand from both agribusiness and Brazilian industry”, the Port Authority states in a press release.

Meat shipments set record in June Last month, Brazil’s beef exports reached an all-time high, with a 55% increase in revenue and a 41% rise in volume, according to the Brazilian Association of Meatpackers (Abrafrigo).

In June, revenue reached US\$ 1.505 billion, with 341,555 tons shipped, compared to US\$ 970.7 million and 242,538 tons in the same month of 2024.

China, the largest client, increased its purchases by 11.3% in the first half of this year. The country accounted for 43% of Brazil’s revenue and 37.4% of its export volume.

The United States, Brazil’s second-largest importer, increased its purchases by 85.4% in volume and 99.8% in revenue, with shipments of 411,700 tons and revenue of US\$ 1.287 billion in the first half of 2025. The U.S. accounted for 24.4% of Brazil’s export volume and 17.3% of revenue.

“The additional tariff could jeopardize sales to the U.S. in the second half of the year and has raised concerns among Brazilian producers. The industry is already feeling the effects, with some U.S. customers canceling purchase orders”, Abrafrigo stated in a press release.