Brazilian shipping grows in February, boosting trade and the economy

Brazil’s ports and waterways sector ended February with positive shipping results, posting total cargo throughput of 101.0 million tonnes. The volume was up 3.78% from the previous period, underscoring the country’s capacity to expand both foreign trade and domestic logistics.

The figures showed a strong performance by private-use terminals (TUPs), which handled 67.7 million tonnes, an increase of 8.90%. The result reflects the importance of private investment and operational efficiency in advancing the sector.

Among the growth highlights, the Port of Suape in Pernambuco stood out with a 19.3% increase, handling 2.1 million tonnes. The Ponta Ubu maritime terminal in Espírito Santo posted even stronger growth of 83%, with 1.4 million tonnes handled, highlighting the potential of strategic regions for cargo flows.

Long-haul shipping, a key segment for international trade, rose 3.6% to 69.1 million tonnes.

The chart below shows the ports that stood out most in long-haul container throughput between January and February 2026. The data comes from Datamar’s DataLiner platform.

Port Share in Long-Haul Trade | Jan-Feb 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Cabotage, which supports cargo transport between Brazilian ports, also posted a significant gain of 8.2%, reaching 24.5 million tonnes.

According to Ports and Airports Minister Tomé Franca, February’s results reflect the ministry’s ongoing work and strategic investments to modernize and expand Brazil’s port and waterway infrastructure. “Our commitment is to logistics optimization and modal integration, ensuring that Brazil continues to strengthen its position in global trade. We are focused on attracting more private investment and promoting innovation so that the sector continues to serve as a pillar of the country’s economic development and job creation,” he said.

By cargo type, liquid bulk rose 11.2% to 26.9 million tonnes. Containerized cargo also showed solid performance, with volume up 10.2% to 12.4 million tonnes, while shipments in twenty-foot equivalent units rose 14.1% to 1.2 million TEUs. Solid bulk cargoes edged up 0.2% to 57 million tonnes.

Some specific commodities posted sharp gains. Coal throughput rose 48.8% to 1.6 million tonnes. Salt increased 39.1% to 741,000 tonnes, while crude oil was up 16.2% to 17.7 million tonnes.

Source: Ministry of Ports and Airports

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