Pecém Port Smashes Previous Container Throughput Record with 16% Annual Increase

The Pecém Port, a key driver of economic development in Ceará, reached an unprecedented container throughput in 2023. Breaking its own record, the Ceará-based port terminal handled 482,930 TEUs throughout the year, marking a 16% growth compared to the same period in 2022.

The previous record, set in 2022, was 417,132 TEUs. In units, the port handled approximately 36,000 more containers in 2023, totaling 283,624 containers.

In total, Pecém Port’s year-to-date throughput reached 17,389,922 tons in 2023, with 10,939,932 tons from cargo unloading and 6,122,060 tons from shipments. This result represents a 2% growth compared to the movement recorded throughout 2022.

Among the cargoes handled at Pecém Port in 2023, the standout was solid bulk, particularly ores, slag, and mineral fuels. Containerized cargo also played a significant role in the annual total, along with loose cargo.

The chart below uses DataLiner data to compare container exports and imports at the Port of Pecém between Jan 2019 and Nov 2023.

Exports and Imports at Pecém Port | Jan 2019 – Nov 2023 | TEU

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Monthly Records

In December 2023 alone, Pecém Port handled 56,906 TEUs, the best result in a single month in the history of the terminal. The second-best monthly result was also recorded last year, in October, with 55,162 TEUs. Until 2023, Pecém had never handled more than 50,000 TEUs in a month.

“Our goal is to reach half a million containers in 2024. For five consecutive months, we set historical records. This is also due to the immense work of the teams, solar panel projects that contributed to part of this success, new maritime lines, coastal shipping, fruit exports, and the fundamental support of our operations team in optimizing the yard during the dry season of the Amazon River,” added André Magalhães.

Pecém Port is a multi-cargo terminal, handling bulk solids, liquid bulk, containers, and general cargo across its ten berths. In the maritime transport logistics chain, it is considered a Port Hub – currently connected by seven coastal lines and three long-haul lines. The port is part of the Pecém Complex (CIPP S/A), a joint venture formed by the State Government and the Port of Rotterdam.

Main Containerized Cargoes (in tons)

• Salt, sulfur, gypsum, lime, cement, earth, and stones (718,838 tons)
• Cereals (700,722 tons)
• Plastics and their products (422,912 tons)
• Fruits (233,702 tons)
• Machines, appliances, and electrical materials (211,692 tons)

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