Brazil: Port activity up 7.5% from January through August

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In relation to cargo profiles, solid bulks (58.4% of the total) posted growth of 3.5% compared to the same period last year, reaching a movement of 472.8 million tons.

Liquid bulk had a total of 209.3 million tons (25.9% of the total) and posted an increase of 12.2% through August 2021 compared to January-August 2020. Loose general cargo (4.9% of the total) grew 15.4%, reaching 39.7 million tons.

Among the shipments worth highlighting in 2021 (January-August), in addition to containers, were Oil and Derivatives, accounting for 23.1% of all cargo handled (187.1 million tons), up 11% over the same period in 2020.

Other highlights were Fertilizers, with 23.9 million tons, growth of 14.3%; Mineral Coal accounted for 16.8 million tons, an increase of 37.7%; and Iron and Steel recorded 16.3 million tons, up 29.8%.

The facilities with the highest relative growth were São Francisco do Sul Waterway Terminal (Total: 11.8 million tons) + 103.9%; Osório Waterway Terminal (Total: 9.9 million tons), + 57.7%; Ilha Guaíba Terminal – TIG (Total: 17.6 million tons), + 31.1%; Ilha d’Água Waterway Terminal (Total: 14.2 million tons), + 30.1%; Pecém Port Terminal (Total: 13.4 million tons), + 29.6%; Itaqui (Total: 21.6 million tons), + 29.0%; and Itaguaí (Total: 35.7 million tons), + 26.8%.

Regarding navigation, long-haul, which represents 70.3% of traffic, grew 7.9% through August 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. Cabotage (coastal trade) increased close to double digits, reaching a 9.8% rise and, finally, inland navigation decreased 5.3% over the period.