Waterborne Transportation Achieves Record Throughput in Q3 2023, says Brazil’s Antaq

The waterborne transportation sector reached a historic high in the third quarter of 2023. Over 348.9 million tonnes were handled between July and September, representing a 6.9% throughput growth compared to the same period in 2022. These statistics come from Brazil’s National Waterway Transportation Agency (ANTAQ).

Year-to-date, the movement continues to set records with a 966.3 million tonnes throughput. This figure reflects an increase of 5.8% compared to 2021, the year of the highest waterborne cargo movement in the country. In comparison to the same period in 2022, there was an increase of 6.06% (911.3 million tons).

Increased cargo operations of iron ore, crude oil, and corn drove the record in the third quarter of 2023. Approximately 107.54 million tonnes of iron ore were handled (a 5.82% increase); the same goes for 57.3 million tonnes of crude oil (a 15.4% increase).

Corn, on the other hand, saw 31.57 million tonnes transported, marking a positive variation of 18.85% compared to the same period in the previous year. Another noteworthy commodity is soybeans, which saw 24.26 million tons hauled, almost a 40% increase compared to the third quarter of 2022.

Navigation

Long-haul navigation moved 252.6 million tonnes in the third quarter of 2023, showing a 7.95% growth compared to the previous year. Coastal shipping increased by 1.94% between July and September, reaching 73.82 million tons.

Inland navigation, on the other hand, grew by 12.63% compared to the same period the previous year, reaching a movement of 21.6 million tons. Operations in maritime and port support navigation also increased by 21.3% compared to the same period in 2022, reaching a movement of 850,000 tons.

It’s important to note that ANTAQ has been monitoring potential impacts on the numbers due to the drought occurring in the Northern Region, especially in the Amazon region.

Private Terminals

Private Usage Terminals (TUPs) recorded 228.7 million tonnes in the third quarter of 2023. This number represents an 8.25% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.

The positive highlight for movements between July and September 2023 was the Ponta da Madeira Maritime Terminal (MA), with just over 49 million tons moved, representing a 2.3% positive variation compared to the same period in 2022.

Percentage-wise, the largest increase among the top five TUP in the period, the oil terminal Tpet/Toil in Açu, located in the Port of Açu in Rio de Janeiro, achieved a growth of 37.67%, with 16.36 million tonnes moved.

Public Ports

State-owned ports moved 120.2 million tonnes in the third quarter of 2023. This figure represents a 4.48% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.

The port with the highest throughput between July and September this year was Santos, with over 37 million tons, a 10.4% increase compared to the same period in 2022. The public port accounted for 30.8% of all public port cargo movement for the quarter.

The ports of Paranaguá (PR) and Itaguaí (RJ) round out the top three organized ports with 15.57 million tonnes and 15.9 million tonnes handled, respectively. In terms of percentage increase, they saw respective increases of 10.7% and 8.63% compared to the same period in the previous year.

Statistical Dashboard

The ANTAQ Statistical Dashboard can be accessed via smartphones and tablets on the Agency’s website. The electronic query provides information on long-haul transport, cabotage, inland waterways, and container port movements.

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