Port of Santos posts record January throughput to open 2026
Feb, 19, 2026 Posted by Gabriel MalheirosWeek 202608
January is historically the slowest month of the year at the Port of Santos, due to seasonal and market-related factors. But 2026 has begun with historic marks: it is the best start to a year on record.
In January 2026, the Port of Santos handled 12.7 million tonnes of cargo. The figure is 9.5% higher than in January 2025 (11.6 million tonnes) and 6.8% above the previous record set in 2024, when 11.9 million tonnes were moved.
Container throughput also reached a record for the month, totaling 467,000 TEUs — 1.4% higher than in January 2024 and the strongest January performance ever recorded.
The following is a breakdown of the top containerized commodities exported from the terminals within the Port of Santos throughout 2025. The data was extracted from Datamar’s DataLiner platform.
Top Exported Commodities | Port of Santos | Jan–Dec 2025 | TEUs
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | DTM HS4 DESCRIPTION | YTD Value | Last Year | %Growth | %MShare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | COTTON NOT CARDED OR COMBED | 221.019 | 224.248 | -1.4% | 15.83% |
| 2 | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | FROZEN BOVINE MEAT | 110.830 | 100.990 | 9.7% | 7.94% |
| 3 | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | CANE OR BEET SUGAR | 95.931 | 108.402 | -11.5% | 6.87% |
| 4 | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | COFFEE BEANS | 94.988 | 102.496 | -7.3% | 6.81% |
| 5 | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | UNCOATED PAPER & PAPERBOARD | 56.620 | 63.377 | -10.7% | 4.06% |
| 6 | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | CHEMICAL WOOD PULP SODA OR SULPHATE | 50.740 | 56.197 | -9.7% | 3.64% |
| 7 | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | POULTRY MEAT | 40.517 | 40.877 | -0.9% | 2.90% |
| 8 | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | AUTOPARTS | 25.826 | 22.316 | 15.7% | 1.85% |
| 9 | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | PNEUMATIC TYRES OF RUBBER | 21.245 | 16.659 | 27.5% | 1.52% |
| 10 | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | I_write_a_lot | 19/02/2026 03:28 PM | PEANUTS | 20.141 | 14.588 | 38.1% | 1.44% |
Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)
“This is more good news, confirming that the strong results achieved so far are not a matter of luck, but of planning,” said Anderson Pomini, president of the Santos Port Authority (APS). “We have just received approval from President Lula’s government to expand the Port of Santos area, which will ensure that new records continue to be set,” Pomini added.
The January 2026 records were once again driven by agribusiness. Sugar stood out, reversing the downward trend seen in 2025 and posting a 36.8% year-on-year increase, with shipments reaching 1.57 million tonnes. The soy complex (beans and meal), supported by product availability and strong external demand, surged 79.6% compared with January 2025, totaling 1.56 million tonnes.
Container volumes rose from 460,786 TEUs in January 2024 to 467,223 TEUs this year. Vessel calls reached 446, up 2.5% from January 2025, when 435 ships docked at the port. Santos’ share of Brazil’s total trade flow edged slightly lower compared with the end of 2025, from 29.6% to 29.5%.
Source: Porto de Santos
-
Meat
Jan, 31, 2024
0
Minerva apt to becoming world’s largest beef supplier to China
-
Fruit
Apr, 12, 2019
0
Orange juice exports from Brazil fall 13% in 2018/19 season
-
Ports and Terminals
Jul, 15, 2025
0
Port of São Sebastião Begins Dredging to Increase Depth on the Coast of São Paulo
-
Ports and Terminals
Jun, 26, 2020
0
Santos handles record volume of cargo in May thanks to soy and sugar exports