Port of Paranaguá Becomes First to Receive Electric Vehicles from Chinese Giant Resuming Sales in Brazil

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Geely has completed its first car shipment to Brazil after a nine-year absence from the country. The San Martin vessel, arriving from the Port of Shanghai, delivered hundreds of electric vehicles in an operation carried out at the Port of Paranaguá. The brand is reentering the Brazilian market through a partnership with an automaker already established in the country.

The operation took place at berth 219, a structure specially designed to receive Ro-Ro (roll-on/roll-off) vessels, which are intended for rolling cargo — or cargo that is loaded onto and offloaded from wheels. This pier allows such vessels to dock perpendicularly to the quay, unlike most others, which dock parallel.

“It is an honor for Portos do Paraná to be the gateway for high-tech vehicles. This shows that we are always ready to serve the automotive market efficiently,” said Luiz Fernando Garcia, CEO of the public company.

Paraná’s Growing Role in the Automotive Industry

In addition to imports, Paraná is also emerging as a major manufacturer and exporter of automobiles. Car sales from the state to foreign markets grew 73.7% between January and May this year, compared to the same period in 2024. In absolute terms, exports jumped from USD 172 million to USD 299 million.

The data, released by the Paraná Institute for Economic and Social Development (Ipardes), comes from Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC).

This growth is directly linked to increased sales in the South American market, particularly Argentina, where purchases of vehicles from Paraná soared 464%, rising from USD 32 million to USD 182 million. Significant increases were also seen in exports to Colombia (49%), Uruguay (38%), and Chile (28%).

Sharing is caring!