Port of Suape breaks all-time record in first quarter 2020

The Port of Suape broke new ground in the first quarter of the year. The port handled 41% more cargo compared to the same period in 2019, totaling 6,675,954 tons. March throughput exceeded expectations and grew 13% compared to the same month in 2019, closing at 1,971,259 tons. The number of vessels that docked in Suape was 11% higher in the period compared to the first quarter 2019, up to 354 vessels, against 318 in the first quarter of last year.

“These results in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic show that we are working hard to keep all services and operations up and running. This is only possible because we have the support of the entire port community, which is at our side, engaged so that people will not lack essential products “, says Leonardo Cerquinho, president of Porto de Suape. “The figures indicate that if it weren’t for this unprecedented crisis, 2020 would certainly be Suape’s best year. But we know that the impact will come”.

Suape remains the national leader in liquid bulk handling, which accounted for 75% of the first quarter results. Fuels, LPG, crude oil, aviation kerosene, among other products, totaled 5,015,768 tons, and increased 54% compared to the the 3,242,294 tons moved over the same period in 2019. Figures for March alone saw a 15% rise, totaling 1,389,758 tons.

Containerized cargo (the most sensitive to economic dynamics) rose 14% in weight, reaching 1,420,104 tons. The increase represented  a 10% rise in TEUs, reaching 121,480 TEU. In the first quarter of 2019, volumes reached 1,245,794 tons and 109,675 TEU. March alone registered the best results for containers. The total reached 503,901 tons and 41,907 TEU, respectively 10% and 6% more than March last year.

General cargo reached 113,771 tons, a 17.8% increase over the same quarter last year. The main general cargoes are vehicles, sugar in bags, steel sheets and coils, parts for wind industry and cast iron works. The figures show a recovery in vehicle shipments, with 9,220 units moved in 2020 compared to 8,667 in the first quarter of 2019, a 6% rise. The biggest increase happened in March, which registered 4,089 vehicles, 42% more than the same month last year. Dry bulk fell 20% in the quarter, despite having increased 30% in March. The total moved was 127,375 tons compared to 159,503 in 2019.

Cabotage, which Suape excels at and leads all Brazilian public ports, grew 36% in the quarter and 19% in March, reaching 4,274,701 tons and 1,326,847, respectively. Deep sea trades saw a big rise in exports: 158% in the first three months and 949,611 tons. Imports grew 17%, totaling 1,452,789 tons. In March alone exports totaled 175,903 tons while imports reached 468,997 tons.

The main destinations for exported goods, which for the most part correspond to fuels, were Singapore, Guinea, Colombia, Mauritania and Argentina. Imported cargo originated in the United States, Argentina, Nigeria, Spain and Colombia.

Cargo at the Port of Suape 2020

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