Brazil private ports up 14.1% in January, driving overall cargo growth

Brazil’s private port terminals started 2026 at a strong pace. In January, Private Use Terminals, known as TUPs, handled 68.6 million tonnes, up 14.1% from the same month last year, a performance that drove growth in the country’s overall port cargo throughput.

In January, private ports accounted for 66% of all port cargo handled in Brazil. Organized ports, meanwhile, moved 35.3 million tonnes, up 10.3%. Total cargo throughput across the country reached 103.9 million tonnes, an increase of 12.8%.

The figures come from a survey by the Association of Private Port Terminals, or ATP, based on data from the Waterborne Statistics report published by Brazil’s waterway transport regulator, Antaq.

Oil and exports lead growth

Among cargo profiles, the main highlight for TUPs in January was liquid and gaseous bulk, which posted a sharp 30.6% increase to 25.9 million tonnes. The rise was driven mainly by long-haul shipping, which jumped 60.7%, reflecting higher export volumes.

Against that backdrop, strategic hubs such as Sao Joao da Barra in Rio de Janeiro state, Angra dos Reis in Rio de Janeiro state and Sao Sebastiao in Sao Paulo state stood out.

In those regions, three terminals posted the highest throughput: the TPET/TOIL-Acu oil terminal in Rio de Janeiro state, with 7.6 million tonnes and growth of 159.8%; Transpetro’s Angra dos Reis waterway terminal, with 6 million tonnes and growth of 20.6%; and Transpetro’s Sao Sebastiao waterway terminal, with more than 5 million tonnes and growth of 11%.

Agribusiness and inland waterways support gains

Solid bulk also recorded significant growth, rising 10% to 35.1 million tonnes. The result was driven by advances in key agricultural and mineral commodities, especially soybeans, up 108.5%, corn, up 48.5%, and bauxite, up 9.1%.

Another notable trend was the growing role of inland navigation, which recorded a 70.8% increase in solid bulk throughput, reinforcing the importance of waterways for moving production.

Containerized cargo posted modest growth of 1.2%, with 4.7 million tonnes handled.

For ATP President Murillo Barbosa, the figures underscore the importance of private ports to Brazil’s economy. “The strong growth of TUPs in January shows that private terminals are essential to the efficiency of national logistics and to the development of Brazil’s port sector. Private ventures strengthen our ability to export different types of cargo, contributing to the country’s leadership in the global commodities market,” Barbosa said.

Moving against the broader trend, general cargo fell 22.5%. Of the 34 terminals with comparable data for January 2025 and January 2026, only 13 posted growth, while 20 recorded declines and one reported no cargo throughput during the period.

Private terminals post growth above 200%

ATP’s survey also identified cases of sharp growth among private terminals. Considering units with minimum throughput of 39,500 tonnes in both periods, three TUPs posted year-on-year growth of more than 200%.

The ranking was led by Terminal Vila do Conde, operated by Hidrovias do Brasil in Para state, with growth of 637.4% and throughput of 724,000 tonnes. It was followed by Cargill Agricola’s ETC Miritituba terminal in Para, up 448.7% with 242,100 tonnes handled. Rounding out the list was the Ponta da Montanha Grain Terminal, or TGPM, also in Para, which advanced 254.3% to 226,600 tonnes.

Source: ATP

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