Northeast ports post 29.59% increase in oil product throughput

Brazil’s Northeast, the country’s largest region by number of states, is home to key organized public ports and private-use terminals that play a vital role in national logistics. Overall, ports in the region handled 9 million tonnes in February, up 6.68% year on year.

Data from the Waterway Statistics system of Brazil’s National Waterway Transportation Agency, Antaq, for February show that the main cargo handled in the region was oil products excluding crude oil — refined products such as fuels — with a total of 2.1 million tonnes moved during the period. The figure represents a sharp 29.59% increase from the same month a year earlier.

According to Ports and Airports Minister Tomé Franca, the results highlight the strength of the Northeast’s port infrastructure and the region’s role in driving Brazil’s economy.

“Northeast ports are strategically important for supply chains, industry and the shipment of Brazilian production. Investments made in recent years have increased the region’s logistics efficiency and created conditions to attract new business, generate jobs and strengthen regional development,” he said.

Main cargoes

In addition to oil products excluding crude oil, the second-largest cargo category was crude oil and oil products, which totaled 1.6 million tonnes and grew 11.48%. Salt ranked third, with throughput of 568,000 tonnes and a sharp 38.45% increase in the period.

Port highlights

Among the region’s main highlights was the Port of Suape, in Pernambuco, which handled 2.1 million tonnes, up 19.32%. It was followed by the private terminal of Madre de Deus, in Bahia, with 2 million tonnes handled and growth of 19.33%.

The following report identifies the top containerized commodities exported through the Port of Suape during the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, based on data compiled and processed by Datamar:

Top Exports | Port of Suape | Q1 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

The Pecém Port Terminal, in Ceará, handled 1.7 million tonnes, up 0.33%. The Port of Aratu, in Bahia, posted a sharp 20.23% increase, handling 555,000 tonnes.

For a more accurate assessment of the Northeast’s performance, ports in Maranhão were not included, as the state is part of the logistics dynamics of Brazil’s North Arc.

Source: MPOR

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