Sugar, oil seeds, fruits, and iron ore, among other products, are key drivers behind the increase in the value exported by port terminals in Brazil.
The flow of Brazilian foreign trade by sea witnessed a significant growth of 41.9% in 2023, reaching a total value of US$ 119.1 billion in FOB value (Free On Board). This surge was driven by a 1.9% increase in exports, totaling US$ 300.4 billion, while imports experienced a 14% decline.
Data collected by the Association of Private Port Terminals (ATP), based on information from the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC) statistics system, reveals these trends, available through the ATP port sector database – DATaPort.
Murillo Barbosa, president of ATP, highlights that the movement of goods in Brazilian port terminals was particularly influenced by strategically significant items for the logistics sector. Notably, sugar saw a 43.4% increase in FOB value, alongside seeds, oilseed fruits such as soybeans, and iron ore, which reached US$ 34.6 billion in exports, marking a growth of 7.2%.
Private Use Terminals, especially Porto Sudeste do Brasil, played a significant role in handling iron ore, responsible for 86.1% of its movement. Porto Sudeste do Brasil alone experienced a remarkable increase of over 50% in its iron ore operations in 2023.
Regarding imports, Barbosa attributes the decline mainly to a reduction in the quantity and average price of mineral fuels, with a 22% decrease in the average price. Additionally, fertilizers saw a notable increase of 7.4% in quantity imported but suffered a significant drop of over 40% in their average value, returning to levels prior to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Barbosa emphasizes the pivotal role of the port sector in the national economy, particularly private terminals that invest in modernization and innovation to meet growing demand, accounting for over 65% of cargo movement in the country.
Looking ahead, Barbosa sees promising prospects for the coming years as long as investments in the sector continue to grow. He notes that the substantial increase in Brazilian maritime trade in 2023 underscores the strength of Brazilian port terminals, signaling a positive outlook for Brazilian foreign trade. Investments in port infrastructure are deemed essential to sustain this upward trajectory in the years to come.
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