2025/26 harvest: Port of Pecém expects to ship 200 fruit containers weekly to Europe

The 2025/2026 fruit harvest season at the Port of Pecém is gaining momentum this September and is expected to move around 200 containers per week to Europe. Each 40-foot refrigerated container can hold up to 27 tonnes of various fruits, including melons, watermelons, mangoes, and grapes produced in the states of Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, and Bahia.

The fruit export season runs until mid-February 2026, with sailings to Europe scheduled every Friday. Of the total shipped via Pecém, about 80% is estimated to be unloaded at the ports of Rotterdam (Netherlands) and London (England), while the remainder is destined for other strategic European ports such as Antwerp (Belgium), Le Havre (France), Sines (Portugal), Hamburg, and Bremerhaven (Germany).

Last weekend, the vessel MSC Leila, 335 meters long, docked at the Port of Pecém to transport fruit from Brazil’s Northeast to Europe. Powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the ship has a capacity of 11,500 TEUs and a draught of 10.4 meters. The cargo shipped by the NWC Line will supply supermarkets across Northern Europe.

The Port Business Manager at the Pecém Complex, Raul Viana, highlighted the line’s importance for exporting high-quality fruit from Ceará. “With operations like this, our clients can be sure that their production will continue finding an important market on the other side, with efficiency, innovation, and speed,” he said, noting that this marks the ninth consecutive year of partnership with MSC in serving the melon harvest from Mossoró (RN) and the mango and grape harvest from the São Francisco Valley (PE and BA) through the Port of Pecém.

Brazilian Fruit Exports via Port of Pecém | Jan 2022 to Aug 2025 | TEU

Source: DataLiner (Click here to request a demo)

For producers, expectations are also positive, particularly for the melon and watermelon harvests, which remain well valued in the European market, according to Gabriel Vieira, Commercial Director at Brazil Melon. “With Spain’s local supply now at a lower volume, a good opportunity arises for Brazil to increase its exports. In addition to stronger demand, European buyers are increasingly prioritizing quality, traceability, and sustainable practices — which benefits producers who are prepared to meet these increasingly high standards,” he said.

Brazil Melon is one of the companies that, through the Port of Pecém, has been supplying its products to the shelves of major European retailers, including LIDL, Tesco, Jumbo, and Edeka. It is not only an opportunity for Europeans to enjoy the flavor of fruits from Ceará but also for Brazilians abroad to have a taste of home.

Source: Informativo dos Portos

Sharing is caring!