Cargo handling at Santos up 5.2% in September

September cargo handling at the Port of Santos totaled 12.2 million tons, 5.2% above the same period in 2019. This was the second-best movement for the month of September, being slightly below the volume reached in September of 2017.

The 2020 accumulated result has already reached 110.1 million tons, an increase of 10.2% over the same period of 2019, and 9.7% over the previous record for the interval, recorded in 2018. With this, the expectation is to end the year with the highest movement in history, breaking the 2019 record of 134 million tons.

In September and in the accumulated result for the year, exports rose by double digits, offsetting the drop in imports and ensuring positive performance.

The Port of Santos maintained its historical level of participation in Brazil’s trade, accounting for 28.3% of national exchanges in the year. Approximately 27% of domestic commercial transactions with foreign countries that passed through the complex had China as a partner country. São Paulo is the state with the largest share (56.8%) of commercial transactions abroad via the port.

Highlights of the month

Exports in September totaled 9.1 million tons, an increase of 13.4% over year-ago levels. In the accumulated result for the year, this cargo flow reached 81.6 million tons, an increase of 15% over the same period in 2019.

Imports, on the other hand, totaled 3.0 million tons, down 13.8% compared to September 2019. Cumulative outflows totaled 28.6 million tons, 1.6% below the same period last year.

6.2 million tons of solid bulk was handled, up 12.2% over the same month last year. Sugar and soy meal led the solid bulk exports.

Liquid bulk increased 18.6%, totaling 1.6 million tons. This reflected the strong performance of diesel oil and diesel, citrus juices, and fuel oil operations.

457,800 tons of general cargo was shipped, up 6.9%, mainly due to pulp shipments. Containerized cargo fell 10.8%, from 386,165 TEU to 344,427 TEU.

Sugar stood out as the busiest cargo in September, with 2.7 million tons shipped, 95.1% more than the volume recorded in September of last year.

Year-to-date highlights

In the accumulated result for the year, solid bulk products totaled 59 million tons, an increase of 19% in the annual comparison, a record result for the interval. Liquid bulk increased by 10.6%, totaling 13.7 million tons; this was a record move for the period and exceeded the previous record set in 2017 by 8.2%.

Accumulated general cargo decreased by 2.1%  in 2020 to 4 million tons, despite pulp’s strong performance. Container movement reached 3,011,362 TEU, a decrease of 1.6% over the same interval of 2019. Accumulated ship flow in 2020 is at 3,692 vessels, 2.1% above 2019.

See the chart below for a comparison of cargo handling at the Port of Santos for the January to September period during the years 2018 to 2020:

Cargo Handling at the Port of Santos | Jan to Sept 2018 – 2020 | WTMT

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