TCP sets record container throughput, boosts beef export market share

Between January and June 2025, TCP, the company that operates the Paranaguá Container Terminal, set a new historical record by handling 803,041 TEUs—a 3% increase over the 780,460 TEUs recorded during the same period in 2024.

A standout in the period was the operation of refrigerated (reefer) containers, used primarily for the export and import of meat and frozen products, which hit a new high of 69,290 units handled — up 7% from the 64,641 units in 2024.

Beef shipments through TCP reached 449,000 tonnes, marking a 48% rise from the 303,000 tonnes shipped in the first half of the previous year. As a result, the terminal’s market share in this segment grew from 23% to 31%.

See below a historical overview of beef exports via the Port of Paranaguá starting from January 2022. The chart was created using DataLiner data:

Brazilian Beef Exports via Port of Paranaguá – Jan 2022 to May 2025 – TEU

Source: DataLiner (Click here to request a demo)

According to the Brazilian Beef Exporters Association (Abiec), Brazil shipped 1.47 million tonnes of beef in the first six months of 2025 — a 13.4% increase — with revenue rising 27.1% to reach US$7.23 billion. The primary producing states were Mato Grosso and São Paulo, while the top three destinations were China, the United States, and Mexico.

Frozen chicken remained the leading export product, with total shipments of 1.13 million tonnes, accounting for a 43% market share in this segment. According to the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA), Brazil exported 2.6 million tonnes in the first half of the year, generating a 5% increase in revenue to US$4.871 billion. The top buyers of Brazilian chicken were the United Arab Emirates, China, and Saudi Arabia.

“Recent infrastructure investments were key to boosting the terminal’s capacity for handling and storing refrigerated containers. While we continue to be the world’s leading export hub for chicken, TCP is also growing its presence in the beef market by ensuring greater efficiency and service quality for meat exporters,” said Giovanni Guidolim, TCP’s commercial, logistics, and customer service manager.

According to ABPA, chicken exports are expected to grow in the second half of the year, supported by rising production and capacity across the sector, as well as efforts by Brazilian authorities to fully reopen markets that had restricted imports following a May case of avian influenza in Rio Grande do Sul. Since June, many destinations have lifted restrictions after Brazil issued a self-declaration to the World Organisation for Animal Health affirming it is free of the disease.

In 2024, TCP completed the expansion of its reefer yard, increasing capacity from 3,624 to 5,268 plugs, making it the largest reefer container storage facility in South America.

To meet the rising electricity demand, the terminal also installed a gas-insulated substation (GIS F35-4) manufactured by General Electric (GE), thereby removing the previous limitations on energy supply. Since 2022, all the electricity consumed at the terminal has come from renewable sources — a commitment that earned TCP an International Renewable Energy Certificate (I-REC) for the third consecutive year.

Beyond meat and frozen goods, the terminal’s leading export categories also included wood (682,000 tonnes) and pulp and paper (487,000 tonnes). On the import side, the top segments were chemicals and petrochemicals (278,000 tonnes), followed by the automotive sector (200,000 tonnes) and the electronics sector (152,000 tonnes).

By sea and by land

In terms of vessel activity, TCP also set a new first-half record, with 526 ship calls between long-haul and cabotage operations — a 3% increase.

Carolina Merkle Brown, head of carrier relations and market intelligence, noted, “The increase in ship calls is a direct result of TCP’s expanded maritime service offerings, which now include 26 weekly calls — the highest number among Brazilian terminals.”

Another key factor in the terminal’s growing volume was the increase in the operational draft at the Port of Paranaguá. In March, the draft was raised from 12.60 to 12.80 meters at zero tide. According to estimates, each additional 20 centimeters of draft allows vessels to carry about 160 more full TEUs.

“With vessels now carrying more cargo thanks to the deeper draft — along with high-frequency calls and broad route availability — TCP continues to play a leading role in Brazil’s trade flow. We are consistently expanding our capacity to connect Brazil with the world,” said Brown.

The terminal also saw a notable increase in rail operations. The number of train arrivals rose 9% to 667, up from 611 the previous year. The number of containers moved by rail totaled 53,155 — 2,753 more than in 2024.

TCP is the only terminal in southern Brazil with a direct rail connection, a key advantage for exporters of chicken, pulp, and paper. These shippers rely on rail links connecting Paranaguá to the cities of Cascavel, Ortigueira, and Cambé in Paraná’s western and northern regions.

Source: TCP

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