Port sector activity grows 7.9% in Q2 2020

Data from ANTAQ’s Informativo Aquaviário waterway bulletin show that the Brazilian port sector (ports + private terminals) handled 286.4 million tons in the second quarter of 2020, signifying 7.9% growth compared to the same period last year, or an increase of 20.9 million tons. The survey highlights shipments of agricultural bulk (sugar and soy), oil and oil products, and iron ore. As stated in the bulletin, increased Chinese demand, favorable exchange rates, and increased fuel production were responsible for the increase in these products.

In the first half of 2020, the national port system handled 538.8 million tons, an increase of 4.6% in relation to the same period last year.

Cabotage

There was a 6.4% decrease in container handling (in TEU) in the second quarter. The capacity utilization index of the container fleet decreased to the level of 58.3% in May 2020, the lowest value of the year, compared to the maximum level of 77.4% in March. This shows a slowdown in the transport of containers via coastal shipping despite the growth of 3.4% in the movement of cargo originating from – or destined for – coastal shipping in comparison with the first quarter of 2019.

Container handling for the semester (in TEU) via cabotage grew by 4.3% compared to the first half of 2019.

The bulletin, released periodically, analyzes port handling and national cargo transport during the period studied, taking into account the country’s economic context.

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