Santos Brasil sets South American record with 135,000 containers handled in July

Santos Brasil reached another historic milestone in July: 135,000 containers were handled at Tecon Santos, the highest monthly volume ever recorded by a container terminal in all of South America. The figure surpasses the previous record, set in June, when the terminal at the Port of Santos moved 129,282 units. Also last month, Tecon carried out the largest single-vessel port operation ever in Brazil, with 7,996 moves.

The successive record-breaking figures reflect the company’s ongoing investments in the modernization and expansion of Tecon Santos — the largest container terminal in South America and one of the most efficient in Latin America. Between 2019 and 2031, the company will invest approximately R$2.6 billion in Tecon Santos, of which R$1.6 billion had already been disbursed as of May 2025. Key investments include deepening the quay and extending it by 220 meters, bringing the total length to 1,510 meters and making it the only terminal in South America capable of simultaneously receiving three New Panamax vessels (366 meters) as well as one vessel at the vehicle terminal (TEV), which has 310 meters of quay.

Current investments are focused on expanding the yard, which has already increased capacity from 2.4 million to 2.7 million TEUs per year following the demolition of an administrative building in 2024, among other measures. By the end of this year, the demolition of a second building will allow the terminal to reach 3 million TEUs per year by 2026. A TEU is the standard unit of measurement equivalent to a 20-foot container.

Over the next six years, the company will continue to invest in equipment, operational flow optimization, systems, decarbonization, and technology. In early 2026, the terminal will receive eight new electric rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTGs) and two remotely operated ship-to-shore cranes, building on the innovation that began with the eight electric RTGs already in operation. By 2031, all 39 diesel-powered RTGs will be replaced with electric models, resulting in an estimated 713 tonnes of CO2 emissions per month and a 97% reduction in emissions from this equipment.

According to Bruno Stupello, Santos Brasil’s Director of Port Terminal Operations, the results reflect the company’s investments in infrastructure, processes, and people. “We have an outstanding team, a state-of-the-art terminal, and everything in place to ensure that exporters, importers, and shipping lines have space for their cargo — all with the high level of service that is the hallmark of Santos Brasil,” he said.

In the first half of 2025, Tecon Santos handled 1,223,426 TEUs, representing a 12.7% increase compared to the same period in 2024 and outpacing the Port of Santos overall, which moved 2.8 million TEUs during the semester (+7.8% year-over-year). The terminal’s market share at the port this semester reached 43%, up from 41% in the same period last year.

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