Brazil: Port of Santos records drop in cargo movement

By Artur Piva

In February, the Port of Santos handled about 15% less cargo than in the same month last year.

The amount fell from almost 13 million tonnes to a little less than 12 million.

The port is among the main ports of departure for Brazilian exports.

Even so, the balance of the year’s first two months was 2% positive compared to the same period in 2022.

Last year, the structure registered a record movement in February.

According to the Port of Santos manager, the main reason for last month’s drop is the reduction in the quantity of soybean and sugar shipments, with 10% and 24% declines, respectively.

In addition, the volume of beef exports fell by 23%.

This retraction occurred because one cattle presented atypical mad cow disease on a farm in Pará.

Detecting specimens with the disease forced Brazil to suspend shipments to China.

Currently, the Asian country is the largest external consumer of Brazilian livestock.

In February 2022, for example, Brazil sent 87,000 tonnes of beef to China, adding all ports together.

In the same month this year, the number closed at less than 72,000 tonnes.

The tendency, however, is that the negative numbers will be reversed throughout the year.

The soybean harvest is late, but the 2023 harvest should be a record, boosting exports.

And the Chinese have already given the go-ahead to resume beef shipments.

With information from Revista Oeste

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