Santos Port handles a record 12.74 million tons in first quarter

In March, the Port of Santos registered a monthly and first-quarter record for cargo handling. During the month it handled 12.74 million tons, a 12.1% year-on-year increase, allowing the first quarter to close at 31.62 million tons handled –  the best first quarter in the port’s history and 1.4% above the previous highest level for this period in 2018.

Exports were mainly responsible for the good performance, with 14.6% year-on-year growth in the month, reaching 9.74 million tons. There was a 2.4% rise in exports for the quarter, with 22.3 million tons shipped. Imports grew 4.8% during the month compared with year-ago levels and 7.5% for the quarter, reaching 3 million tons and 9.37 million tons, respectively.

Exports

There was significant growth for soybean complex (grain and bran), with almost 5 million tons handled, signifying 16.1% growth.  The accumulated total exported in the first quarter reached 8.92 million tons, up 1.2%. Sugar exports rose 31% in the month, at 1.42 million tons, with the quarterly total at 3.32 million tons, an increase of 14.9% compared with year-ago levels.

This increase is the result of demand in international markets, boosted by the devaluation of the real as well as substituting for Argentina as it faces logistical challenges.  The growth in sugar exports was influenced by the recent drop in oil prices, which makes ethanol less competitive compared to fossil fuels.  This leads to sugar production in plants being more profitable. Added to this is the devaluation of the real, favoring national exports further.

Imports

Imports rose 4.8% during March compared to March 2019 (3 million tons), allowing the total for quarter to reach 9.37 million tons – a 7.5% year-on-year increase.

Diesel oil imports reached 224,450 tons in the month, an increase of 30.3% compared with March 2019, bringing the total to 657,830 tons for the quarter, up 23.2%. Fertilizer imports stood at 195,990 tons in the month, 27.7% higher than in March 2019, and totaling 1.02 million tons for the quarter (a 17.5% year-on-year increase).

Containers

Container operations registered a monthly increase of 7.6%, reaching 337,250 TEU.  The quarter registered 1.02 million TEU, 15.4% above the first quarter last year. Santos’ share of the total number of containers handled in the country, based on the latest data released by the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq) in February, reached 39%, an increase of two percentage points over 2019. The second best-placed port was Itajaí ( SC), which accounted for 12% of the Brazilian container handling share.

Containers were used to transport 3.8 million tons in March, an increase of 4.6%, increasing the accumulated total in the year so far to 11.09 million tons, 10.8% more than in the first quarter of last year.

The first impact of COVID-19 on cargo movement began to be felt in the last two weeks of March, since the average travel time on the Asia/Santos route is 45 days. The impact is expected to become more acute in April, mainly in trade with Asia and possibly with Europe.

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