By Brazil Stock Guide – Despite US tariffs imposed on August 6, Santos Port posted its strongest August on record. Cargo handling reached 16.5 million tons, up 3.5% from a year earlier. Container throughput climbed 8.9% to a record 518,100 TEUs.
Year-to-date volumes totaled 122.2 million tons, up 0.6%, while container traffic hit 3.8 million TEUs, an 8% increase. Vessel calls also grew, with 489 dockings in August, 9.6% more than a year earlier.
The results show August was a month of overcoming trade headwinds, said Anderson Pomini, CEO of Santos Port Authority (APS).
Cargo drives the surge
Pulp shipments jumped 55.8% to 866,900 tons. Soybeans surged 45.4% to 1.65 million tons, while soy meal rose 3.9%. Gasoline exports gained 16.2%, fuel oil 15.3% and citrus juice 20.8%.
Other products fell: sugar dropped 7.6%, coffee 13.4% and meats 2.1%. Imports showed sharp swings, with LPG plunging 84.7% and iron ore 65.4%, while methanol rose 7.1% and sulfur 3.7%.
Data from Comex/Mdic show exports to the US slipped 5.8% in August, the first month under the new tariffs. Still, overall export value rose 8.6% from a year earlier, driven by a 63.3% surge in shipments to China.
Santos’ share of Brazil’s trade flow rose to 29.9% from 28.5% a year earlier.
What’s at stake
The figures highlight Santos’ resilience amid trade frictions between Brazil and the US. Redirecting flows to China underscores the port’s role as a global hub but increases reliance on Asian demand. The performance suggests Brazil can sustain record export levels in 2025 despite external headwinds.