Port of Paranaguá Records Highest Truck Volume in History at Sorting Yard

Vehicle movement at the Sorting Yard of the Port of Paranaguá reached a historic record this year. Between January and April, 181,651 trucks passed through the facility, surpassing the previous record of 175,280 vehicles during the same period in 2020. In the same timeframe last year, 134,869 cars were processed.

Primarily focused on handling bulk agricultural commodities, the yard mostly received soybeans (5,495,034 tons) and soybean meal (2,407,836 tons) in the first four months of the year. Most of these shipments came from the states of Paraná and Mato Grosso.

This increase reflects the implementation of strict cargo inspections, which ensure product quality and market security, resulting in higher cargo throughput.

The Sorting Yard plays a key role in removing excess vehicles from port access roads and evaluating the quality of goods to be exported. It also manages the scheduling system for truck entry, avoiding long queues along BR-277.

“In addition to the logistical advantages, we have a strict analysis system that guarantees our clients their products will arrive safely and free from contaminants,” said Luiz Fernando Garcia, CEO of Portos do Paraná.

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK – The Port of Paranaguá is implementing new control and inspection regulations introduced in 2024 by Portos do Paraná in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply (MAPA). The system ensures maximum safety and quality of the exported goods.

The official inspection company at the Sorting Yard is BV, audited by the Paraná Institute for Rural Development (IDR-PR). Supervision is managed by the Association of Export Corridor Terminals of Paranaguá (ATEXP). Inspectors collect truck samples for a visual inspection to identify contaminants, such as stones, sand, or branches.

Another portion of the sample is sent to a lab for further analysis. From January to April, 1,850 trucks had their loads rejected for not meeting minimum quality standards.

This year saw an almost 30% decrease in rejected loads compared to the same period in 2024 (2,613). The drop is attributed to stricter control over export products, which discourages the adulteration of these products.

STRICTER INSPECTIONS – While cargo inspections have been conducted for decades, a new safety protocol was recently implemented to ensure high-quality exports and prevent fraud. Rejected loads typically fall below export standards, such as low protein levels or high moisture content. There have been no reports of adulterated loads being exported through the Port of Paranaguá in recent years.

“When shipments don’t meet minimum quality standards and show signs of tampering, Portos do Paraná informs law enforcement and regulatory agencies,” said Gabriel Vieira, Operations Director at Portos do Paraná.

If contamination is detected — such as the presence of sand, sawdust, or other foreign substances — the cargo must be disposed of outside the port at sites designated by federal authorities.

According to an October 2024 ordinance, after disposal, drivers must present proof of cargo disposal before being granted re-entry to the Sorting Yard. From January to April 2025, 59 vehicles were sent to landfills for product destruction.

Fernando Augusto Mendes, head of the Inspection Service for Plant-Origin Products in Paraná (SIPOV/PR) at the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized the consequences of adulterated cargo being loaded onto ships: “If detected by controllers, the loading operation would be halted, resulting in operational disruptions, costs, and potential stock contamination at the terminal. It could even paralyze the entire loading process.”

“Our goal is to safeguard the integrity of exports and preserve international market trust,” Mendes added.

The stricter controls by Portos do Paraná have been well received by the port community and global markets. “The new regulations from the port authority significantly enhance the security of the export corridor. These measures prevent criminal practices and ensure product quality, bolstering the international credibility of the Port of Paranaguá,” said Rodrigo Buffara Farah Coelho, manager of the Cotriguaçu – Central Cooperative Terminal.

“Strengthening inspections gives the market more confidence. Companies worldwide know they can rely on us to deliver high-quality cargo. This is directly reflected in the high truck volume at the Sorting Yard,” added Luiz Fernando Garcia, CEO of Portos do Paraná.

Source: Agência Estadual de Notícias do Paraná

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