Port of Imbituba Sets Historical Record of 8.3 Million Tonnes in 2024

The Port of Imbituba achieved its highest annual cargo volume in history in 2024, with 8.3 million tons handled between January and December. This result represents an 8% increase compared to the previous year, with 329 vessels serviced, predominantly carrying bulk cargo for export.

Grains and Minerals Lead the Way

Bulk cargo accounted for 79.2% of the total handled, amounting to approximately 6.6 million tons. Minerals led the operations with 3.7 million tons, followed by agricultural products, which reached 2.87 million tons.

Petroleum coke, the primary product handled, accounted for 24.6% of the total cargo volume despite an 8.9% decrease compared to 2023. This product, including calcined and non-calcined petroleum coke, continues to be transported for imports and exports.

Substantial Growth in the Container Segment

The container segment stood out in 2024, representing 16.9% of the total volume and recording a 51.5% increase in tonnage. The port handled 112,000 TEUs , a 70% increase compared to the 66,000 TEUs in 2023.

This performance was driven by the addition of three new international container shipping routes connecting Brazil to North America (Brasex), Argentina (Atlas), and Asia (Carioca), alongside the consolidation of the ALCT-2 cabotage route along the Brazilian coast.

The chart below compares container exports and imports at the Port of Imbituba. It is worth noting that Datamar’s data only takes long-haul operations into account, not considering cabotage, transhipments, etc.

Imbituba Container Exports & Imports | Jan 2024 – Nov 2024 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Other Notable Products

In addition to petroleum coke and containers, other key products handled include:

Corn and soybean meal: 15.6% of the total

Salt: 10.8%

Sugar: 7.6%

Fertilizers: 5.9%

Bulk sugar, a new addition to Imbituba’s operations, reached an impressive volume of 632,000 tons, ranking 5th among products handled.

Exports Dominate Operations

In 2024, exports accounted for 49.4% of the total volume. Key destinations included Iran, Canada, Vietnam, and China. Imports comprised 40.5% of the total, primarily from the United States, Chile, China, and Colombia. Cabotage (9.3%) and transshipment (0.8%) completed the operational breakdown.

According to data from the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, import and export operations totaled USD 2.3 billion, a 19.8% increase compared to 2023.

Record-Breaking Performance Throughout the Year

This historic achievement was built month by month, with seven record-breaking months for cargo volume. March was the standout, with 834,100 tons handled, marking the port’s best-ever monthly performance.

Optimistic Outlook for 2025

SCPAR Porto de Imbituba, the port’s operator, forecasts reaching 8.7 million tons in 2025. According to José João Tavares, acting CEO, the results in 2024 were the result of collaborative efforts between port users and management, focusing on infrastructure development and meeting market demands.

The port’s growing performance underscores its strategic importance as a key economic driver in southern Santa Catarina.

Source: Port of Imbituba

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