Brazil’s Port of Santos posts record cargo volumes in 2025

The Port of Santos, in São Paulo state, handled a record 186.4 million tonnes of cargo in 2025, marking the highest throughput in its history and a 3.6% increase over the previous record of 179.8 million tonnes set in 2024.

Export shipments totaled 137.4 million tonnes during the year, up 4.6%, while import volumes were broadly stable, rising 1% to 49 million tonnes.

The chart below provides an overview of containerized exports and imports (measured in TEUs) at the Port of Santos, featuring Datamar data.

Port of Santos | Exports x Imports | Jan 2022 – Nov 2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Santos also increased its share of Brazil’s foreign trade. In 2025, the port complex accounted for 29.6% of the country’s total international trade flows by value, measured in U.S. dollars on an FOB basis, up from 29% in 2024.

“Every month of 2025 set records for container handling, and general cargo volumes reached record levels in most months,” said Anderson Pomini, president of the Santos Port Authority. “The results demonstrate the resilience of the Port of Santos and the effectiveness of infrastructure investments, while also reflecting Brazil’s growth in global trade.”

China remained the port’s main trading partner in 2025, accounting for 29.6% of total cargo flows.

By volume, the leading export commodities handled at Santos last year were soybeans, at 44.9 million tonnes, followed by sugar with 24.1 million tonnes, corn with 15.2 million tonnes and pulp with 9.8 million tonnes. On the import side, fertilizers led with 8.3 million tonnes, followed by diesel and gasoil at 2.4 million tonnes, sulfur at 2.04 million tonnes and wheat at 1.3 million tonnes.

The number of vessel calls at the port reached 5,708 in 2025, an increase of 2.7% compared with 2024.

“The Port of Santos figures show that Brazil has resumed investing with planning, legal certainty and a long-term vision,” Ports and Airports Minister Silvio Costa Filho said. “This is a port that is breaking records, expanding capacity and preparing to attract strategic investments, such as the STS 10 terminal, which will transform container logistics in the country.”

Source: Agência Brasil

Sharing is caring!