Paranagua terminals to ship 9,428,300 t of grains and meals in 3Q23

In the upcoming three months, the expected volume of bulk cargo shipped through the Port of Paranaguá is 9,428,300 tonnes. Therefore, terminals and operators with a stake in this segment have high expectations for the third quarter, fueled by the arrival of a new corn crop. The shipment forecast encompasses soy, corn, sugar, and meal. The estimates for July, August, and September represent an increase of approximately 32.5% compared to the 7,117,509 tonnes seen during the same period in 2022.

Gabriel Vieira, operations director at Portos do Paraná, highlights that the record-breaking performance achieved in May, the most recent month with consolidated data, shows the port’s capacity to deliver results in line with expectations. Vieira comments, “Our performance has improved this year. Ships have been able to carry higher volumes, ensuring greater efficiency in the operation.” He further notes that ships’ waiting periods, berthing, and unberthing times have been reduced, leading to positive outcomes.

One factor that fed increased productivity in the shipment of solid bulk exports has been the dredging of berths. Vieira explains that dredged berths allow ships to carry larger quantities. He adds, “We aim to expand our shipping capacity further. Meeting the volume expectations for the third quarter will pose a significant challenge, but our outlook is highly positive.”

The operational manager of the Port of Paranaguá acknowledges that the main challenge lies in the climate, particularly rainfall, which impacts both product shipments at the port and harvests on the other end.

Segment-wise, out of the 9,428,300 tonnes projected for the next quarter, soybeans are expected to account for 4,006,000 tonnes, sugar for 1,920,000 tonnes, corn for 1,904,000 tonnes, and soymeal for 1,598,300 tonnes.

André Maragliano, the director of the Association of Terminals in the Export Corridor of Paranaguá (ATEXP), attributes the significant increase in shipment expectations to corn. He states, “We anticipate seeing record volumes of cereal shipments, particularly at the Export Corridor.”

As for soybeans, producers are taking advantage of the rising prices to continue exporting and creating room for the new corn crop (second crop). Maragliano adds, “In terms of corn alone, Brazil is expected to produce more than ten million tonnes than it did last harvest season. Plus, there is strong demand from the international market. So, corn will be in high demand.”

According to the Department of Rural Economy (Deral) of the Paraná state secretariat for agriculture and supply (Seab), the expectation for the second corn crop is to reach 14 million tonnes. Analyst Edmar Gervásio mentions that this crop’s yields will enter the market starting in the second half of July. Paraná is the primary source of corn exported through the Port of Paranaguá.

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