Itapoá Port Boosts Reefer Capacity to Capture Growing Animal Protein Market

The Itapoá Port, located on the northern coast of Santa Catarina, is set to install an additional 1,080 reefer container plugs over the next six months, with 540 expected to be ready by December this year. This will increase the total to 4,038 plugs, the highest number in Santa Catarina and the second highest in Brazil.

One of the region’s key economic activities, animal protein exports, accounts for most refrigerated cargo operated at Itapoá Port. According to Felipe Fioravanti Kaufmann, Director of Business Development and Customer Experience, the terminal’s expansion is planned. Nonetheless, the increase in plugs was accelerated to meet the demands of the production sector.

The Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) projects a positive outlook for poultry and pork production in 2024. Pork exports are expected to reach a record volume of up to 1.325 million tonnes, a 7.7% increase from the previous year. Initial projections for 2025 suggest exports could reach 1.375 million tonnes, an estimated rise of 3.8% compared to 2024. Poultry exports are anticipated to grow by up to 2.2% this year, with estimates of 5.25 million tonnes exported in 2024, rising to 5.35 million tonnes in 2025.

Kaufmann emphasizes Santa Catarina’s significance in this context: “The ABPA’s 2023 annual report shows that the state accounted for over 50% of Brazil’s pork exports, ranking first nationally. In poultry, Santa Catarina was the second largest exporter in the country, representing 21% of the total,” he states.

The chart below uses DataLiner-derived data to compare monthly animal protein (pork, beef, and poultry) exports from the Port of Itapoá between January and July in the first four years.

Meat Exports from Itapoá Port | 2021 to 2024 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Neighboring Paraná was the largest poultry exporter in 2023, holding 40% of Brazil’s total, and ranked third in pork exports, contributing 14%. “These two states play a crucial role in animal protein production, with a rich tradition and global significance,” Kaufmann adds.

Over 30% Growth in Exports

By August 2024, Itapoá Port has already handled 77,961 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of reefer cargo, a 34% increase compared to the 57,994 TEUs processed in the same period last year. “This growth is due to both an increase in export volumes from our clients and the doubling of the number of customers in this segment over the past year,” Kaufmann explains. “The market is increasingly looking to Itapoá Port as a logistics solution. Our quality indicators and service capacity have built trust in this operation, and customers are noticing.”

This year, most exports have been directed to China (approximately 13%), followed by the Philippines (9.9%), the United Arab Emirates (9.4%), and Japan (8.4%), among over ninety other countries.

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