Paranaguá terminal hits 1 million TEUs two weeks ahead of 2024 record

On Wednesday, August 13, TCP, the company operating the Paranaguá Container Terminal, reached a historic milestone by handling 1 million TEUs, two weeks ahead of the previous record, set on August 27, 2024.

The achievement also marks a significant increase compared to 2021, when TCP first hit the 1 million TEU mark on November 28.

From January to July 2025, the terminal moved 943,892 TEUs, a 4% rise from 906,357 TEUs in the same period last year. Exports accounted for 380,982 TEUs and imports for 375,730 TEUs, representing a 2% and 3% increase, respectively, both new records for the segments.

Refrigerated container operations (reefers) drove much of the growth, totaling 80,299 units from January to July 2025, a 5% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

“Records achieved throughout 2025 in road, rail, and maritime operations reflect progress on all fronts. This demonstrates that TCP’s investment strategy in infrastructure, equipment, and ongoing employee development is delivering tangible results that enhance terminal performance and benefit our clients,” said TCP operations manager Felipe de França.

In May, TCP set a new monthly record with 141,788 TEUs, the second-highest monthly volume in 2025, surpassing March’s 138,485 TEUs. The previous monthly record had been 137,370 TEUs in October 2024.

In terms of container units, the terminal exceeded the October 2024 record of 74,350 boxes twice, moving 76,622 units in May and 77,427 in July, 4% higher than the best month of the previous year.

Gate operations, representing road access container transactions, also hit a new high in July 2025 with 55,255 units, while daily transactions peaked on April 16 with 2,781 boxes.

“TCP operates 40 rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTGs) and 69 terminal tractors (TTs), the largest fleet among Brazilian terminals. Coupled with infrastructure investments, such as the recently upgraded Gate that tripled vehicle access capacity, and the completion of South America’s largest refrigerated container yard with 5,268 plugs, Paranaguá Container Terminal enters August with excellent results and capacity to further expand its role in the national port logistics sector,” França added.

Rail operations connecting TCP to northern and western Paraná set a new record in March 2025 with 9,627 units, surpassing the previous high of 9,086 boxes in July 2024 by 7%.

The KBT intermodal project, which has been in operation since 2021, links TCP to a container terminal at Klabin’s Puma II plant in Ortigueira (PR) via a line operated by Brado Logística. The project also achieved a new monthly productivity record in May, moving 4,912 containers, a 17% increase from April’s 4,195 units.

Reflecting increased rail traffic, 121 trains arrived at the terminal in May, a monthly record. “Rail is a strategic solution for state exporters, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, easing road traffic pressure, lowering damage risk, and improving transit reliability. Being the only Southern Brazilian port with a direct rail connection to its operational yard, TCP has a dedicated team continuously optimizing this operation, and this year’s records are a direct outcome of these improvements,” França noted.

Maritime operations also set records, with 91 vessels berthing in January. “2025 saw enhancements in the operational draft to 12.8 meters at zero tide, compared with 12.1 meters in 2024. The additional 70 centimeters allow ships to carry 560 more TEUs, further boosting terminal throughput,” he added.

TCP currently hosts 23 shipping services, the largest concentration of lines at a single port terminal on Brazil’s coast.

Source: TCP

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