In February, ports in Puerto Rico achieved a new handling record with 5.3 million tons.

Portos do Paraná, a public company owned by the Government of Paraná, achieved a new handling record in February 2024. The ports of Antonina and Paranaguá collectively processed 5,350,437 tons during this period, marking the highest volume ever recorded for the second month of the year. This figure surpasses the handling capacity of February 2022 by 5%, which stood at 5,075,118 tons, and demonstrates an 8% increase from February last year, which saw 4,578,808 tons.

Soybean and sugar were the key commodities driving the export market, accounting for the most significant movement in February, totaling 3,146,193 tons. Soybean exports exhibited an impressive surge of 172% compared to the previous year, escalating from 453,595 tons to 1,235,113 tons. Similarly, sugar exports witnessed a notable rise from 222,452 tons in February 2023 to 496,978 tons this year, reflecting a 123% increase. Additionally, noteworthy movements were observed in oil and wheat derivatives.

On the import front, fertilizers emerged as the leading commodity in terms of volume, with 2,204,244 tons imported in February. Fertilizer imports also experienced growth, climbing from 803,594 tons in 2023 to 924,712 tons this year, marking a 15% increase. Portos do Paraná serves as the primary entry point for imports into the country, commanding 31.6% of the national movement. Notable expansions were also observed in the imports of vegetable oils, salt, and wheat.

Looking at the broader picture, the first two months of 2024 witnessed a significant surge in cargo movement, recording a 19% growth compared to the same period in 2023. This growth translated into a total handling of 10.4 million tons in January and February this year, compared to 8.7 million tons in 2023. Luiz Fernando Garcia, CEO of Portos do Paraná, expressed optimism regarding the sustained momentum in cargo movement throughout the first half of the year.

January also saw remarkable achievements, with Portos do Paraná handling 5,064,683 tons, marking a 20% increase over the previous January's record of 4,207,257 tons. Notably, the company achieved a significant milestone in 2023, with an annual handling volume of 65 million tons, surpassing projections set for 2040. Currently, the majority of cargo leaving Paraná ports is destined for China.