TCP reaches handling of 1.6 million TEUs

On the morning of last Thursday (18), TCP, the company that operates the Paranaguá Container Terminal, surpassed the mark of 1.6 million TEUs handled for the first time in its history. This achievement positions the company as the third in Brazil and the first in the Southern Region to reach this level of operations.

For comparison, 1.6 million TEUs is equivalent to 9,754 kilometers in container length—approximately the same straight-line distance between Paranaguá and Rome, Italy.

The milestone was reached during the operation of the vessel Brooklyn Bridge, a ship measuring 267 meters in length and 36 meters in beam, which is part of the weekly LUX service connecting the east coast of South America to Northern Europe. The Paranaguá Container Terminal is the largest hub for shipping lines on the Brazilian coast, with 23 maritime services, including long-haul and cabotage operations, and 26 weekly calls.

“TCP will close the 2025 cycle as the best year in its history for container handling. This result reflects the company’s commitment to providing services and solutions that meet the market’s main demands. With continuous advances in capacity and operational efficiency, the Paranaguá Container Terminal strengthens its role as one of the main logistics corridors in South America,” said Carolina Merkle Brown, Commercial Manager for Shipping Lines and Market Intelligence.

Through the combined efforts of the entire company, TCP broke four monthly handling records, the most recent in October, when the terminal recorded 148,690 TEUs. Refrigerated cargo (reefer) operations also reached a new high in 2025: in August, the terminal handled 14,000 refrigerated containers.

With the inauguration of the largest refrigerated container storage yard in South America, featuring 5,268 power outlets, the terminal increased its market share in beef exports to more than 30% over the year. It maintained performance above 40% in poultry exports, consolidating its position as the country’s most significant export corridor for meat and frozen products.

The achievement of 1.6 million TEUs is not merely a numerical milestone; it vividly reflects TCP’s enhanced service capabilities, operational efficiency, and market competitiveness. This success embodies the expertise and dedication of all employees, supporting a new development paradigm and driving regional economic prosperity.

New operational draft

In November, Portos do Paraná approved Ordinance No. 224/2025, which increases the operational draft of the access channel to the Port of Paranaguá from 12.80 meters to 13.30 meters for container vessels. The measure was supported by simulation studies commissioned by TCP and conducted in September at the University of São Paulo (USP) Numerical Towing Tank.

According to estimates, increasing the draft—defined as the vertical distance between a vessel’s lowest point and the waterline—by 50 centimeters results in an additional transport capacity equivalent to 400 fully laden TEUs per vessel.

Since 2024, the operational draft of the access channel to the Port of Paranaguá has undergone three revisions, increasing from 12.10 meters to 13.30 meters. The total increase in depth of 1.20 meters represents an added capacity of 960 fully laden TEUs per vessel.

Source: TCP

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