Port of Santos Hits Record Container Throughput in January

The Port of Santos posted a strong performance in container throughput in January 2025, handling a record 460,800 TEUs. This volume represents a 12.1% increase compared to January 2024, marking the highest figure ever recorded for the month.

Key export commodities saw significant growth:

• Corn: 1.378 million tonnes (+31.6%)
• Pulp: 670,731 tonnes (+23.2%)
• Meat: 184,681 tonnes (+21.9%)
• Coffee: 234,978 tonnes (+5.2%)

Inbound cargo also registered notable increases:

• LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas): 78,454 tonnes (+106.1%)
• Salt: 92,174 tonnes (+186.4%)
• Disodium sulfate: 75,152 tonnes (+198.4%)

Despite strong performances in specific segments, total cargo throughput for the month stood at 11.6 million tonnes, a 2.5% decline. This drop was directly tied to a sharp decrease in sugar exports, which totaled 1.146 million tonnes—down 45.3% from January 2024. According to data from Brazil’s Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex), this decline reflects a 35% reduction in exports of VHP sugar (lower purity) and a 36% drop in refined sugar shipments compared to the same month last year.

Total exports reached 7.7 million tonnes (-3.6%), while imports totaled 3.8 million tonnes (-0.2%).

The following chart puts into perspective container exports and imports at Brazil’s Port of Santos between January 2022 and January 2024. This information comes from DataLiner, a Datamar intelligence product.

Container Exports & Imports | Port of Santos | Jan 2022 – Jan 2024 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Segment Performance

•  Dry bulk cargo totaled 4.3 million tonnes, down 13.4%, largely due to the decline in sugar exports. However, corn and soybean meal posted gains of 31.6% and 16.8%, respectively.
• Liquid bulk cargo amounted to 1.4 million tonnes, a 21.9% drop. The standout performer in this segment was diesel and gas oil, which surged by 89.7%.
• Breakbulk cargo totaled 916,000 tonnes, an impressive 56.8% increase, driven primarily by a 23.2% rise in pulp shipments.

A total of 435 vessels called at the port in January, a slight 0.9% decrease compared to the same month in 2024.

The Port of Santos expanded its share of Brazil’s trade flow to 29.9%. China remained its top trading partner, accounting for 24.4% of the port’s international transactions. São Paulo retained its position as the leading Brazilian state in foreign trade via Santos, representing 51.5% of the port’s total trade volume.

“Despite the drop in sugar shipments, the significant growth in container throughput and exports of commodities like corn and pulp demonstrate that the port remains diversified and resilient, meeting the demands of agribusiness and industry,” said Anderson Pomini, President of Santos Port Authority (APS).

Port of Itajaí Sees Growth

Under APS management, the Port of Itajaí in Santa Catarina closed January with a cargo throughput of 1.3 million tonnes, a 26.3% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Port operator Portonave accounted for 69.4% of this volume.

Containerized cargo totaled 118,000 TEUs, up 21.4%, while non-containerized cargo reached 134,000 tonnes, a 11.7% increase, setting a new record for January.

Source: Informativo dos Portos

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