Brazilian Container Imports Experience Accelerated Growth

Newly released data from Datamar’s Business Intelligence team on Brazil’s container throughput indicate that in the first eight months of the year, Brazil imported 2,106,570 TEUs, an 18.8% increase over the same period last year. The country imported 281,807 TEUs in August alone, 13.1% higher than in August 2023.

The following chart uses data extracted from DataLiner, Datamar’s master product, to compare container imports registered at Brazilian ports from January to August, since 2021.

Brazilian Imports in Containers | Jan-Aug 2021 vs. Jan-Aug 2024 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

According to the data, most of the imported products in the first eight months of the year are raw materials or equipment for the industry. Imports of plastics increased by 28.3% from January to September 2024 compared to 2023, imports of reactors, machinery, and boilers grew by 12.1%, and electrical materials rose by 9.6% over the same period.

On the export side, 2,049,388 TEUs were shipped from Brazilian ports between January and August 2024, a 14.3% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Despite the significant year-to-date increase, August growth was just 0.7%.

The following chart uses data extracted from DataLiner to compare container exports from Brazilian ports from January to August over the last three years.

Brazilian Exports in Containers | Jan-Aug 2021 vs. Jan-Aug 2024 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

The data show that Brazil continues to be a major exporter of commodities, with meat being the most exported containerized product, recording an 8.3% increase in the first eight months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, followed by wood (+16.1%) and cotton (+169.3%).

China remains Brazil’s leading trade partner, with imports rising by 31.5% and exports increasing by 14%.

Argentina and Uruguay

Argentinian exports also increased by 6.1% from January to August 2023, rising by 1.9% in August.

However, imports fell by 25.7% in the first eight months of the year compared to the previous year and dropped 33.3% in August compared to the same month in 2023.

Uruguay, meanwhile, saw a 0.6% increase in imports during the first eight months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 but recorded a 9.7% decline in August year-on-year. On the export side, shipments increased by 10.4% from January to August compared to the same months in 2023, though there was a 7.4% drop in August compared to August 2023.

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