Pre-tariff rush drives record shipments at Port of Santos

The CEO of the Port of Santos, Anderson Pomini, noted that there was a “cargo rush” in July, following the announcement of the 50% U.S. tariffs on Brazilian products, but before they took effect on 06/08. “We handled 17.4 million tonnes, an increase of 6.1% compared with the same period last year. Those who had orange juice ready, who had frozen meat, who had coffee, rushed to deliver,” he said.

See below a historical overview of long-haul container exports via the Port of Santos between January 2022 and August 2025. The chart was prepared using DataLiner data and excludes internal movements, transshipment, and cabotage:

Exportações de Contêineres no longo curso via Porto de Santos | Jan 2022 a Ago 2025 | TEU

Source: DataLiner (Clique aqui para solicitar uma demo)

Movement to the U.S. fell after the tariffs took effect

The Director of Development and Management at the Port of Suape (PE), Rinaldo Lira, said that U.S. buyers were practically removed from the list of destinations for several goods. “In August, there were no records of sugarcane exports to the United States, a product that has historically been among the top sellers,” he said.

Port executives believe the U.S. suffered greater losses

Pomini said that the tariffs on Brazilian products were felt mainly by American families — “especially consumers of orange juice, coffee, and meat,” he emphasized, noting that the price of Brazilian proteins doubled in the U.S. “When you impact your main supplier with tariffs, there will be an increase in your domestic product prices. It’s no coincidence there’s a ‘warming climate’ [between the presidents of the U.S. and Brazil]. It’s because the economy is under pressure,” he said.

According to him, this negative effect explains the recent rapprochement between Trump and Lula.

Exports near zero

“We saw an abrupt decline [in exports to the U.S.] starting in August. Suape practically disappeared from the export list to the United States. We handled only 173 tonnes during the period, a drop of nearly 100% compared with the same period last year,” said Suape’s director, Rinaldo Lira.

“The orange juice consumed in the United States comes almost entirely from the countryside of São Paulo. A move to raise tariffs only harms the American consumer. […] There may be some elasticity — a reduction in consumption or a shift to another type of juice — but largely what happens is simply that prices rise,” said São Paulo’s Finance Secretary, Samuel Kinoshita.

“When the economy is under pressure, any president will look for reconciliation,” added Anderson Pomini, CEO of the Port of Santos.

Leaders call for the opening of new routes

According to Lira, identifying new markets has the potential to expand Brazil’s global presence. “We need to open markets and strengthen relations with the United States,” he said.

Pomini shared the same view and stated that a disruption of sales to other regions would be even more damaging: “If this ‘tariff shock’ had been applied by Asia, the impact would have been huge on our economy and on the Port of Santos,” he noted.

Exclusion of items from the surcharge list benefited São Paulo

São Paulo’s Secretary of Finance and Planning, Samuel Kinoshita, said that the removal of aircraft from the final list of products subject to the additional 40% tariff was welcomed as a relief, given Embraer’s strong presence in the U.S. market. “For us, it was by far the main item on the export list,” he said.

Source: UOL

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