Port of Santos braces for inevitable export slowdown after record July

July was the busiest month in the history of the Port of Santos, with more than 17 million tonnes of cargo shipped. However, according to Anderson Pomini, president of the Santos Port Authority (APS), this scenario may change. With the end of the surge caused by the rush to ship goods to the United States following the announcement of new tariffs, the port is already preparing for a potential decline.

In an interview with Times Brasil, Pomini stated that the July shipping peak was strongly influenced by the so-called “tarifaço” (tariff shock) recently announced by the U.S. government. The measure prompted exporters to expedite shipments, resulting in a surge in operations. “Considering the announcement of the tarifaço, producers who already had goods ready rushed to deliver them to take advantage of current prices, given that the tariff is based on the date the product enters the country,” he explained.

The port authority president stated that there was a 96% increase in certain exports. The most frequently shipped products from the Port of Santos to the United States are beef, chicken, offal, coffee, and orange juice. According to Pomini, these goods account for just over 20% of the port’s total activity. China remains the primary destination, accounting for about 60% of exports.

Despite the record-setting performance, the APS president forecasts a decline in the coming months, especially in cargo bound for the U.S. “Just as we saw a rush to deliver goods that were already ready to ship, it’s natural that this month the port will brace for a drop, particularly in cargoes destined for the U.S.,” he said.

Pomini noted, however, that the impact of the tariffs on overall port volume should be limited. “We’ll see a percentage drop due to the tarifaço, but this won’t affect the whole operation, considering that around 70%—a bit more than 60%—is bound for the other 200 countries, especially in Asia, China, and parts of Europe,” he said.

See below a history of container throughput at the Port of Santos starting from January 2022. The chart was prepared using DataLiner data:

Container Throughput via Port of Santos – Jan 2022 to Jun 2025 – TEU

Source: DataLiner (Click here to request a demo)

Adaptability
He also highlighted the Port of Santos’s ability to adapt to market fluctuations.

“It’s a modular port that adapts precisely to these fluctuations, because it must be efficient in exporting raw goods and importing industrialized products.”

With connections to 200 countries and around 600 destinations, the port is accustomed to periods of both high and low demand. Pomini emphasized that the growth of agribusiness was another key factor in July’s performance, alongside the advance shipments prompted by the new U.S. tariffs.

Source: Jornal da Orla

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