Port of Paranaguá Sets Sugar Loading Record with 77,000 Tonnes on Single Vessel

The Port of Paranaguá, in southern Brazil’s Paraná state, set a new record for Paranaguá sugar exports by loading 77,000 metric tons of bulk sugar onto a single vessel, the largest volume ever recorded for this type of operation at the port. The shipment consisted of VHP (very high polarization) sugar, loaded aboard the bulk carrier Iolcos Legacy and bound for the Port of Bandar Imam Khomeini in Iran. Loading began in the early hours of Friday (Nov. 6) and was completed on Monday (Nov. 9).

Flying the Maltese flag, the Iolcos Legacy measures 229 meters in length and nearly 37 meters in width. The vessel berthed at the port on Thursday evening (Nov. 5), ahead of an operation that involved a large workforce.

According to Portos do Paraná, the new record is linked to investments in port infrastructure, particularly an increase in the port’s permitted vessel draft, which has allowed ships to carry larger volumes of cargo.

Gabriel Vieira, director of port operations at Portos do Paraná, said the increase in operational capacity has helped improve loading efficiency and safety.

“The growth in bulk export capacity, including for sugar, is the result of an increase in the port’s permitted vessel draft, which reached 13.30 meters in 2025. This development allows ships to take on more cargo during each operation, making better use of operational capacity and improving loading efficiency and safety,” Vieira said.

Paranaguá Sugar Exports Account for Nearly 20% of Brazil’s Total

The Port of Paranaguá ranks second nationwide in sugar exports, handling nearly 20% of Brazil’s shipments. Between January and October 2026, the port exported 3.79 million metric tons of sugar, including both bulk and bagged cargo.

Sugar handling operations also stood out in August, when the port authority organized a special operation to meet strong demand for the commodity. During the second half of that month, four vessels were loaded simultaneously in an operation involving approximately 1,300 workers and resulting in shipments of more than 127,000 metric tons of sugar.

According to information released by Portos do Paraná, international demand for Brazilian sugar was driven in part by India’s suspension of sugar exports between May and September due to insufficient rainfall that affected the country’s agricultural production.

India, the world’s largest sugar consumer, is also a major participant in international trade in the commodity.

In 2026 through October, the leading destinations for Paranaguá sugar exports were Algeria, Iran, Bangladesh, Switzerland, Senegal, Canada, Yemen, Somalia, Angola and Malaysia.

The new loading record reinforces the Paraná port’s ability to handle large export volumes and demonstrates the importance of infrastructure investments for Brazil’s sugar logistics.

Souce: RPA News

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