Port of Santos Sets Record for October Cargo and Projects Historic Annual Growth in 2024

The Port of Santos recorded the highest cargo movement in its historical series for October 2024. A total of 15.5 million tons were handled, an increase of 8.4% compared to the same period in 2023. From January to October, the port has already handled 153.0 million tons, representing a growth of 7.7% compared to the same period last year. This is a historic record for the period, reaffirming Santos’ leading role in Brazil’s port sector.

Shipments, which totaled 10.9 million tons in October, grew 1.4% compared to October 2023, while discharges showed a significant increase of 30.0%, reaching 4.6 million tons. For the year-to-date, shipments totaled 112.9 million tons (+6.0%), and discharges reached 40.0 million tons (+13.0%).
Container handling remains strong, reaching another important record with 493.7 thousand TEUs handled in October, an increase of 12.3% compared to 2023, and 4.548 million TEUs year-to-date, a rise of 15.4%.

The chart below shows the performance of container exports and imports at the Port of Santos from January 2022 to September 2024, measured in Twenty-Foot-Equivalent Units (TEUs). The data is from DataLiner, a product developed by Datamar, and includes only long-haul shipments, excluding cabotage and transshipment operations.

Container Exports and Imports at Santos | Jan 2022 – Sep 2024 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Agribusiness cargo continues to stand out, with soybeans reaching 27.8 million tons, sugar 23.4 million tons, and corn 11.5 million tons.

The Port Authority of Santos (APS) president, Anderson Pomini, celebrated the record numbers, stating that “the results achieved by October 2024 are the result of efficient operations combined with strategic investments that have expanded our capacity and competitiveness. The movement of cargo and containers and the strengthening of agribusiness highlight the relevance of the Port of Santos for Brazil and the world. We are confident that we will reach a new annual record, reaffirming our role as a strategic agent for Brazilian foreign trade.”

Bulk solids totaled 7.6 million tons in October (+7.7%), driven by an increase in bulk sugar exports (+47.4%) and soybean meal (+31.3%). Year-to-date, there have been 79.2 million tons (+2.2%), with soybeans accounting for 35.1% of this volume, sugar for 25.4%, corn for 14.5%, and pelletized soybeans for 10.5%.

Liquid bulk reached 1.8 million tons in October (+5.8%) and 16.3 million tons year-to-date (+2.4%), with highlights for gasoline (+60.7%) and fuel oil (+25.4%). For the year, the largest shares were held by diesel oil and gas oil (4.9%), fuel oil (3.5%), and citrus juices (2.4%).

The general cargo segment handled 838 thousand tons in the month (+3.7%) and 7.7 million tons year-to-date (+6.3%), mainly driven by shipments of pulp (+25.6%).

From January to October, the number of vessels totaled 4,660, a growth of 3.6%.

Trade Flow
Brazil’s trade flow through the Port of Santos also grew, reaching US$147.3 million from January to October, corresponding to 29.0% of the national total. Other ports in the country together accounted for 51.6% of the trade flow (US$262.2 million). China remains Brazil’s main trading partner (27.9%), while the state of São Paulo accounts for 53.6% of the external transactions handled by the port.

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