Port movement in Rio Grande do Sul falls 2,39% in the first five months of 2024

From January to May 2024, port movements in Rio Grande do Sul registered a drop of 2,39% compared to the same period last year. The data was released this week by Portos RS and takes into account the activities of the Rio Grande, Pelotas and Porto Alegre units, in addition to the Rio-Grandino port complex.

The Port of Rio Grande, which did not stop activities during the flood period, was responsible for the movement of 15.475.165 tons, a number that is 2,27% lower than that obtained in the first five months of 2023. Soybeans moved in the sea port of Rio Grande do Sul 2.565.882 tons, while wheat reached 2.338.544 tons, cellulose reached 1.492.106 tons and wood another 209.192 tons.

The timing of the soybean harvest contributed to the growth in grain movement in the Rio Grande port complex, however the reduction is focused on inputs for the production of fertilizers, items that are important within the total volume moved by the ports of Rio Grande do Sul and mainly that of Big River.

“We cannot say that the decrease in the movement of fertilizers at the Port of Rio Grande occurred exclusively due to the floods. We continue to monitor and deal with industries, operators and all terminals to carry out this survey in sequence”, explained the president of Portos RS, Cristiano Klinger.

Container movement, from January to May this year, reached 289.597 TEU's, a unit of measurement that corresponds to a 20-foot container. The months of March and April stand out as the busiest, when 58.725 TEU's and 64.891 TEU's passed through the Rio-Grandino port complex, respectively.

The floods also affected the Port of Pelotas, which had to halt activities for 15 days, between May 2nd and 17th. Movements reached 423.536 tons, divided between 358.222 tons of wood destined for cellulose production and 65.304 tons of clinker, which is cement in its raw manufacturing phase.

Also due to the floods, the Port of Porto Alegre was closed in May. However, movements from January to April totaled 352.710 tons, a number that was 21,86% higher than the same period in 2023.

When it comes to the destination of exports, China tops the list with 2.473.725 tons, followed by Vietnam with 750.363 tons, the Philippines with 727.843 tons, the United States with 33.093 tons and Iran with 417.747 tons. Countries such as Morocco, France, South Korea, Thailand and Portugal are also destinations for what is produced in the state.

Imports come from Argentina with 661.102 tons, China with 443.272 tons, Russia with 260.490 tons, Morocco with 233.321 tons, and the United States with 188.109 tons. Products originating in Peru, Canada, Uruguay, the Netherlands and Nigeria are also part of the list of nations.