Agribusiness boosts and cargo movement at the Port of Santos breaks new records in July

Cargo movement at the Port of Santos continues to grow at a rapid pace, recording successive records. In the month of July, the Port reached the highest monthly historical mark, moving 16,3 million tons, an increase of 6,9% compared to the same period in 2023, when 15,3 million tons were handled. This performance raised the year's total to 105,5 million tons, representing growth of 9,7% and, once again, breaking records.

The president of the Santos Port Authority (APS), Anderson Pomini, celebrated the results, highlighting the port's commitment to efficiency and innovation: “The records achieved reaffirm our commitment to maintaining the Port of Santos as a reference in cargo movement, always seeking innovation in operations.”

Among the products that stood out in the period, agribusiness cargo led the growth. Sugar and soybeans were the protagonists, with significant movements. In July, sugar reached 2,7 million tons, an increase of 23,1% compared to the previous year, accumulating 14,8 million tons in the first seven months of 2024, which represents an increase of 43,1% . Soybeans moved 2,4 million tons in the month (+18,4%), totaling 26,2 million tons in the year to date, although with a slight drop of 2,0%.

Other products also contributed significantly to the port's performance. Shipments of coffee beans totaled 197,9 thousand tons in July, a significant increase of 49,0% compared to the previous year, accumulating 1,4 million tons (+60,0%) in 2024. Meat registered a growth of 59,5% in the month, with 246,5 thousand tons moved, and in the year to date, it totaled 1,4 million tons (+32,0%). Cellulose increased by 35,0% in July, with 661 thousand tons, accumulating 4,5 million tons in the year (+7,9%). It is also worth highlighting the discharges of fertilizers, with 725,9 thousand tons (+37,8%) in the month and 4,0 million tons (-4,0%) in the accumulated result; and citrus juice, with 246,8 thousand tons (+7,7%) in July and 1,4 million tons in the first 7 months of the year (-5,1%).

In addition to solid bulk, containerized cargo also achieved remarkable performance. In July, 492,6 thousand TEU (unit equivalent to a 20-foot container) were handled, representing a growth of 17,2% compared to the same month last year. In the year to date, volume reached 3,0 million TEU, an increase of 16,6%, registering the best historical mark for both July and the accumulated period.

Overall, shipments reached 11,9 million tons in the month, a growth of 3,4% and in the year to date, 78,5 million tons, 9,6% above the same period in 2023. Discharges totaled 4,4 million tons, 17,9% above the figure recorded in July of the previous year and the accumulated result for the year reached 26,9 million tons, showing growth of 9,9%.

Solid Bulk – solid bulk reached, in the first seven months of the year, a total of 54,7 million tons, an increase of 3,6% over the same period in 2023, the best accumulated mark in the period. The share per load in this segment was 51,1% for soybeans; 22,5% for sugar; 10% for pelleted soybeans; 7% for fertilizer and 7,2% for corn.

Liquid Bulk – liquid bulk products totaled 11,3 million tons in this period, growth of 4,7% and also the best mark for the period. The highlights in this segment were gasoline, with 166,7 thousand tons (+293,9%) in the month and 489,7 thousand tons (+79,7%) in the year to date; and diesel oil and gas oil, with 211,0 thousand tons (+102,9%) in the month and 790,0 thousand tons (+23,7%) in the year to date. The share per load in liquid bulk was 4,9% for diesel and gas oil; 3,7% for fuel oil; 2,4% for citrus juices; 1,4% for gasoline; 1,1% for caustic soda; and 1,1% for alcohol.

In terms of dockings, July registered 477 ships (+3,0%), totaling 3.254 vessels in the first seven months of the year (+4,1%), further consolidating the Port of Santos as one of the main logistics hubs in Brazil.

Commercial Current

The Port of Santos also maintained a strong presence in foreign trade, participating in 28,6% of the Brazilian trade flow, with China being the main commercial partner, responsible for 29,2% of transactions. São Paulo, with 53,1%, remains the State with the highest share of commercial transactions with abroad, according to Santos.