Rio Grande do Sul Port Complex Sees 19.1% Growth in Cargo Throughput in Early 2025

The Rio Grande do Sul port complex closed the first two months of 2025 with a total cargo throughput of 6,895,687 tonnes, marking a 19.1% increase compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the Port of Rio Grande and its industrial district handled 6,735,155 tonnes, the highest volume recorded in the first 60 days of a year over the past decade.

Bulk cargo accounted for the majority of this volume, making up 57.1% of total throughput. General cargo ranked second, representing 35.1%, while liquid bulk made up 7.1%. The number of vessels and barges calling at the three port units also saw an uptick: Rio Grande received 515 vessels, Pelotas handled 65, and Porto Alegre welcomed 14 during the period.

At the Port of Rio Grande, a 24.32% surge in cargo volumes was driven by significant increases in shipments of corn (32,718.04%), sulfates (715.91%), meat products (63.43%), phosphates (50.93%), soybeans (36.57%), and pulp (16.97%). Container throughput also saw a sharp rise of 38.54%, climbing from 111,501 TEUs in 2024 to 154,479 TEUs in 2025.

The chart below reveals, according to DataLiner data, the top export and import cargoes for the Rio Grande Port in the twelve months of 2024. Click on the link below to request a demo.

Rio Grande Port Top Containerized Cargo | 2024 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

China led the ranking of import origins between January and February, with 339,240 tonnes, followed by Argentina (307,207 tonnes), the United States (71,760 tonnes), Morocco (71,001 tonnes), and Uruguay (67,204 tonnes). On the export side, Vietnam was the top destination with 642,316 tonnes, followed by China (559,512 tonnes), Indonesia (341,636 tonnes), Saudi Arabia (335,906 tonnes), and the United States (167,342 tonnes).

At the Port of Pelotas, total cargo throughput for the period reached 123,130 tonnes, with raw timber continuing to dominate operations, accounting for 112,113 tonnes. Clinker—the raw form of cement—registered a throughput of 11,017 tonnes.

Meanwhile, the Port of Porto Alegre handled 37,402 tonnes of cargo. Fertilizer inputs were the primary commodity, totaling 21,352 tonnes, followed by wheat (10,743 tonnes), salt (5,302 tonnes), and clinker (5 tonnes).

Sharing is caring!