São Francisco do Sul Port receives authorization to export corn to China

The Grain Terminal at the Port of São Francisco do Sul has successfully met all the sanitary requirements and quality standards mandated by China for corn exports. As a result, it received approval from the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture this week to ship grain to the Asian country.

The certification process, conducted collaboratively by Brazilian authorities and China, ensures that the port terminal meets the necessary requirements, such as quarantine, transportation, storage, and proper cereal processing.

China started accepting corn shipments from Brazil at the end of last year following escalating tensions with its primary corn supplier, the United States. However, China insisted on a special certification from the Ministry of Agriculture. Representatives from the ministry visited the Port of São Francisco in early May to inspect the phytosanitary conditions of its Grain Terminal.

The approved habilitation will now be forwarded to the General Administration of Customs of China, which will officially grant permission for corn exports from the port of Santa Catarina.

Throughout the year, the Port administration has invested BRL 10 million in various enhancements at the Grain Terminal. These improvements encompass the revitalization of the railway line, the expansion of the weighbridge to accommodate larger trucks and the refurbishment of internal roads with the implementation of durable pavement suitable for heavy vehicle traffic within the facility.

As a result of these investments, the Grain Terminal achieved a new record in the first four months of 2023 by receiving 586 thousand tonnes of grains, primarily soy. This figure represents a 22% increase compared to the same period last year when the terminal received 481 thousand tons.

Retrospective

Historically, the largest buyers of corn shipped through the Port of São Francisco have included Egypt, Iran, Spain, and Japan. Despite being the world’s second-largest corn exporter, Brazil has witnessed minimal corn exports to China in recent years due to the country’s stringent requirements concerning disease and pest risks.

However, China remains a significant purchaser of Brazil’s soy, which, along with corn, serves as the primary ingredient for animal feed used to nourish its swine herd.

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