Codeba says cargo movement hits record at Bahia state ports despite U.S. tariff hike

Port activity in August at the ports of the state of Bahia, the first month after the new tariffs imposed by the U.S. government took effect, was 7.8% higher than in the same period last year. Cargo handled between January and August also reached a record level, totaling 914.8 million tonnes for the year to date, a 2.8% increase compared with 2024 figures.

The Federal Port Authority in Bahia (Codeba) reported that in the state, growth in August reached 4.34%, driven once again by solid bulk cargo, which rose 32.98%. Among public ports, Aratu-Candeias recorded the largest monthly increase (23.5%) due to the activation of terminals ATU 12 and 18, which enabled the port to handle solid bulk cargo — both mineral and grain.

Codeba’s president, Antonio Gobbo, explained that Bahia’s public ports are equipped to handle diverse types of cargo, and ongoing infrastructure investments will allow the state to meet the growing demands of industrial, agricultural export, and tourism sectors. “The Port of Aratu-Candeias, for instance, is one of the main logistics hubs for fuels and chemical products and, as of this year, has begun handling grains and minerals from Brazil’s Northeast. With investments in intermodality and upgrades to integrated land systems, we expect to overcome long-standing infrastructure bottlenecks and meet even higher levels of intrastate demand, transforming Bahia’s potential into a true competitive advantage,” he said.

Below is a historical overview of long-haul container movement at the Port of Salvador since January 2022. The chart was prepared with DataLiner data:

Container Movement at the Port of Salvador | Jan 2022 – Aug 2025 | TEU

Source: DataLiner (Click here to request a demo)

Data from the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq) confirm route changes caused by the restrictions imposed by the United States and show that Brazil has adapted to the tariff hike. Exports grew 3.2% in August compared with August 2024, with sharp increases in shipments to India (up 348%), Mexico (97%), Argentina (50%), and China (12%), while exports to the United States fell 17%.

“The record cargo movement at the country’s ports, combined with the rise in export volumes, reinforces Brazil’s growing relevance in global trade. We are working to further expand cargo handled through the waterway transport system, as this directly translates into more jobs and income for Brazilians,” said Silvio Costa Filho, Minister of Ports and Airports.

There were also records in long-haul shipping (exports and imports), which reached 95.4 million tonnes, in cabotage (coastal shipping between Brazilian ports), with 28.2 million tonnes, and in inland waterway transport, which totaled 8.1 million tonnes.

By cargo type, the strongest growth in August was seen in liquid bulk, up 25% to a record 32.5 million tonnes. Petroleum and derivatives alone totaled 22.5 million tonnes, a 33.4% increase from the same month last year.

The report also shows an 11.3% increase in iron ore exports in August (42.2 million tonnes) and a 3.4% rise in corn exports (10.7 million tonnes).

Source: Portal Portuário

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