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. At the public ports managed by federal port authority CODEBA, cargo throughput rose 11.66%, reaching 1.4 million tonnes.

The Port of Aratu-Candeias, in Bahia state, stood out with a 20.23% increase in throughput, totaling 555,000 tonnes of cargo handled. The Port of Itajaí, in Santa Catarina, moved 407,000 tonnes, representing growth of 61.51% in operations. The Port of Salvador handled 370,000 tonnes, while the Port of Ilhéus moved 40,000 tonnes, highlighting the potential of the public ports managed by the company in strategic cargo-flow regions.

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

Among the main destinations for Brazilian exports, China remained the leading partner, with volumes up 8.3% from the same period last year, followed by the United States, where shipments fell 31.1%, and Mexico, with volumes down 1.5%.

Brazilian Container Exports | Jan 2023 to Feb 2026 | TEU

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Cabotage, which supports cargo transport between Brazilian ports, also posted a strong increase 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 throughput 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: ASCOM MPOR

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