Fertilizer imports grow 49% in the Port of Antonina (PR)

The movement of fertilizers through the Port of Antonina, on the coast of Paraná, increased by 49% in 2019, reaching 422.569 tons between January and October. In the same period last year, 283.614 tons were imported.

According to Gilberto Birkhan, President Director of TPPF, the expectation is that movement will increase even more with expansion works underway at the Terminal. “Around 80% of Brazilian fertilizer demand is met by imports, and Paraná is a reference in this port activity. Therefore, we are investing in expanding the TPPF structure. dredging works that will facilitate the movement of ships in our bay”.

Another important factor in the increase in movement is the work of the port authority Portos do Paraná, with the dredging of the access channel and evolution basin of the Port of Antonina, which has been taking place since August this year. The public company in Paraná is responsible for managing the state's port terminals, maintaining the entire waterway access infrastructure, evolution basins, berths, road, rail and internal access. The private sector, the TPPF, is responsible for the superstructure: operational equipment, warehouses and specialized labor.

Dredging began in August, in the access channel and evolution basin of the Port of Antonina. To date, around one million cubic meters have been removed from this area. With ongoing dredging, it is planned to restore the depth to 9,5 meters, allowing maneuvers for larger and more loaded ships.

After the completion of the TPPF expansion and dredging in the ports of Paraná, the expectation is to double the current movement numbers at the Antoninense Terminal.

The main products operated in Antonina are fertilizer, with emphasis on month-to-month movement, soybean meal, which has a fully customized operation, which is the flagship of the Antonina private terminal, the customization of port operations, and sugar bagged. All products saw movement growth this year. In addition to the 49% increase in fertilizer imports, a 10,5% increase was recorded in the movement of soybean meal and a 7% increase in bagged sugar.