Bahia ports see 20% rise in solid bulk cargo in July

Ports in Bahia moved 1.2 million tonnes (Mt) in July, with solid bulk cargo (minerals and agricultural products) standing out, registering a 20.45% increase in port operations.

The largest volume was recorded at the Port of Salvador, which handled 627,000 tonnes. The cotton harvest outflow and the establishment of the weekly Brazil–China route were among the key factors that positively impacted the result.

Antonio Gobbo, president of the Bahia Port Authority – CODEBA, explained that a series of investments is being made to meet the rising operational demand.

“We are growing. This year, container handling has increased significantly, which requires reorganizing spaces, the construction of new alternative access routes, and the expansion of the quay. These investments together will double the capacity at the Port of Salvador. In addition, we have two projects that will bring major gains to the Port of Aratu, with ATUs 12 and 18, which will, for the first time, handle solid bulk cargo. This will make all the difference,” he said.

For 2025, data from the Systematic Survey of Agricultural Production (LSPA/IBGE) indicate that cotton production is estimated at 1.87 million tonnes, an increase of 5.4%, keeping Bahia as the largest producer in the Northeast and second in the national ranking. A record soybean harvest is also expected, up 14.3% compared to last year.

Port operations in Brazil

Across the country, Brazilian ports handled the highest monthly cargo volume in history during the period. A total of 124.7 Mt was transported, with 73% in long-distance navigation (exports and imports) and 20% in cabotage (between Brazilian ports).

From January to July, Brazilian ports handled 780.4 million tonnes of cargo, up 1.76% compared to the same period last year.

The main type of cargo handled was solid bulk (minerals and agricultural products), with more than 76.6 million tonnes. All cargo categories recorded growth in July compared to the same month in 2024.

Liquid bulk (especially fuels) increased 6%, solid bulk rose nearly 4%, containerized cargo grew 3%, and general cargo volumes were up 0.9% compared to July last year.

Source: Bahia.ba

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