Port of Santos Prepares for Increased Cargo Flow with the 2024/2025 Harvest

During the grain harvest season, the Port of Santos handles up to five times more trucks than usual, increasing the daily vehicle flow from an average of 3,000 to 15,000 trucks. Additionally, the port serves as the central export hub for soybeans and corn, shipping to around 70 countries. With Brazil’s National Supply Company (Conab) estimating the 2024/2025 harvest at 322.3 million tons—and a corresponding increase in commodity shipments—public agencies, transporters, and exporters are working to prevent logistical bottlenecks.

Record Exports Expected

According to Sérgio Mendes, General Director of the National Association of Grain Exporters (Anec), the sector plans to export 33.3 million tons of soybeans and 16.1 million tons of corn in 2024.

“We export grains to around 70 countries through 14 Brazilian ports, but Santos is our flagship. Today, 95% of soybeans, corn, and cotton are shipped through Santos. To put this into perspective, you would have to combine the total volume exported by the ports of Santarém (PA), Barcarena (PA), Itacoatiara (AM), and Itaqui (MA) to match what is shipped from Santos.”

Check out below the main goods exported through the Port of Santos. The data is from DataLiner:

Products Exports from Santos Port | 2024

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Concerns Over Truck Traffic and Weather Conditions

Regarding potential truck congestion in the Baixada Santista region during peak harvest season, Mendes highlighted that weather conditions in northern Brazil are a bigger concern.

“Drought or excessive rain in the North worries us more. When that happens, cargo that would have been exported from those ports is redirected to Santos. This year’s peak grain export months are expected to be March, April, May, and June.”

The surge in truck traffic is both an opportunity and a challenge. José Cavalcanti de Andrade, president of the Union of Autonomous Road Transporters of Bulk Cargo (Sindgran), welcomes the additional work but is concerned about possible bottlenecks at the port’s access points.

“Between grains and containers, the number of trucks jumps from 3,000 to around 15,000 per day, moving in and out of Baixada Santista and the Port of Santos,” he explained.

The truck scheduling system, managed by the Santos Port Authority (APS), has helped, but adjustments are still needed.

“Scheduling has improved things in some ways, but it has also made it worse for trucks arriving without a slot. We are working with APS to fix this,” Andrade said.

Efforts to Prevent Congestion

Roseneide Fassina, president of the Union of Commercial Cargo Transport Companies of the Paulista Coast (Sindisan), warned that congestion could become a serious issue if proactive measures are not taken.

“We have severe road access issues. One of the key solutions will be enforcing strict scheduling compliance,” Fassina emphasized.

She also pointed out that the entire logistics ecosystem—associations, unions, and regulatory agencies—must work together to tackle this challenge.

Another potential complication is the start of construction in the Alemoa industrial and port district, which could further impact traffic. Fassina mentioned that meetings to address this issue are set to begin next week.

Ship Queues and Export Challenges

Regarding ship queues for grain loading or fertilizer unloading, José Roque, Executive Director of the São Paulo State Ship Agents’ Union (Sindamar), stated that several factors could impact vessel wait times in 2025.

“At the beginning of the year, we could see vessel queues in Santos due to rains in Mato Grosso delaying the harvest and, consequently, slowing down cargo arrivals. However, historically, things tend to normalize by late March, thanks to the efficiency of the region’s terminals, which have invested heavily in infrastructure,” Roque explained.

For the following months, the pace of commercialization by producers in the interior will play a key role.

“Exporters will only book vessels based on how fast producers sell their crops,” Roque noted.

Despite the positive outlook for exports due to the bumper harvest, logistical challenges remain a significant concern.

Source: A Tribuna

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