Amazon ports see unprecedented grain export surge in 2023

In 2023, the Brazilian grain export industry achieved significant milestones in Amazon-based ports. According to data from the port terminals association AMPORT, the Amazon port industry exported over 51 million tonnes, marking a growth of approximately 22% compared to 2022. This figure reflects a nationwide surge, which saw a 29.4% increase in soybean and corn shipment volumes compared to the previous year, as announced by the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho.

“Despite a dry year in our region, we managed to account for 37% of the total agricultural bulk exports through Brazilian ports, compared to 34% in 2022. The Amazon Basin and the ports in our region play a crucial role in Brazil’s grain transport and demonstrate their potential each year, making a strong case for further investment in logistics,” notes Flávio Acatauassú, president of AMPORT.

The association’s data on activity in the Amazon Arc underscores the potential for expansion in the region in the coming years, which should also be a focus of improvement efforts by the Federal Government to further boost these statistics. According to Minister Silvio Costa Filho, the New Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) envisages R$ 14.5 billion in new port complex leases between 2023 and 2026.

In addition to the PAC funds, R$ 639 million will be invested in 2024 alone to enhance ports and waterways for the efficient flow of the Brazilian grain harvest. For Acatauassú, these improvements have the potential to further enhance productivity levels in the sector. Currently, the ports of Itacoatiara, Santarém, Santana, Barcarena, and São Luiz have a combined capacity to export over 58 million tons of vegetable bulk annually, with plans to reach 100 million tons per year by 2030.

See below the export volume recorded at the ports of Santana and Itacoatiara from January and December 2023, according to the business intelligence platform DataLiner.

Cargo Exports | Santana and Itacoatiara | 2023 | WTMT

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

“This estimate is to meet the growing demand we see in the market. Brazil is a global reference in exports, so we need to continue growing, always in a strategic and sustainable manner, to maintain the upward momentum we have seen in recent years,” adds the president of AMPORT.

Among the states within the Amazon Arc, Pará stood out, particularly due to the infrastructure of the Barcarena port complex. Its strategic location provides deeper sea exits, allowing for larger vessel capacities.

Sharing is caring!