Port of Santos sets a new record in the first four months of 2026

The Port of Santos continues to post record-breaking results. In April 2026, cargo throughput reached 16.5 million tonnes, a record for the month and an increase of 11.5% compared to April 2025. In the year-to-date period, throughput grew 6.6%, totaling 59.3 million tonnes — the best first four-month period in the port’s historical series.

In April alone, container handling reached 508,700 TEUs, up 10.7% from the same month last year and marking the best April result on record. In the cumulative four-month period, 1.91 million TEUs represented growth of 5.4% compared to 2025. TEU is the standard unit of measurement for containers.

See below a historical overview of long-haul container throughput at the Port of Santos starting from January 2023. The chart considers only long-haul operations, excluding cabotage, transshipment, and other internal movements:

Exports & Imports | Port of Santos | Jan 2023 – Mar 2026 | TEU

Source: DataLiner (Click here to request a demo)

Liquid bulk cargo totaled 6.6 million tonnes in the first four months of the year — a 10.1% increase compared to the same period in 2025 and another record for a first quadrimester. In April, 1.7 million tonnes were handled. The highlights of the first four months were increases in exports of diesel, fuel oil, and gasoline, which rose 27.9%, 23.9%, and 15.8%, respectively.

Solid bulk cargo reached 29.2 million tonnes in the first four months of 2026, up 8.2% compared to 2025, setting another record for the period. Soybeans (+54.8%), sugar (+16%), and soybean pellets (+12%) recorded the strongest growth. In April alone, solid bulk handling advanced 16.2% compared to April 2025.

Importance of the Port of Santos to Brazil

The Port of Santos accounted for 28.5% of Brazil’s total trade flow during the first four months of the year. During the period, China strengthened its position as Brazil’s main trading partner: approximately 31.9% of the country’s foreign trade transactions passed through the port, with China as either the origin or destination. Trade with China totaled US$18.98 billion in the first four months, compared to US$6.27 billion traded with the United States, Brazil’s second-largest trading partner.

São Paulo was the state with the highest participation in foreign trade transactions through the Port of Santos during the first quarter of 2026. Transactions totaled US$30.3 billion, corresponding to 50.9% of the overall total.

Source: Port of Santos

Sharing is caring!