Brazil's cargo handling in all of its ports increased in August from a year earlier despite the additional US tariffs that came into effect in the beginning of the month, as export volumes surged to India, Mexico, Argentina and China.
Brazilian ports' cargo handling rose by 7.8pc in August from a year earlier, waterway transportation agency Antaq data show. Exports increased by 3.2pc over the year, while shipments to the US dropped by 17pc thanks to increased tariffs in key products such as coffee and beef enacted on 1 August.
Brazilian shipments increased more than fourfold to India, nearly doubled to Mexico, rose by 50pc to Argentina and grew by 12pc to China in the month from a year earlier.
Iron ore exports to all destinations rose by 11pc to 42.2mn metric tonnes (t) in August. Corn exports also grew by 3.4pc to 10.7mn t over the period.
Record in Jan-Aug
Brazilian ports reached an all-time high cargo handling year-to-date August, up by 2.8pc from a year earlier, according to Antaq.
National ports handled 914.8mn t of cargo in January-August, mostly driven by liquid bulk handling and increased flows in private terminals. Brazil also reported records in long distance shipments, comprising exports and imports, and domestic destinations.
Iron ore was the key export product in the period, with 271.7mn t handled in the first eight months of 2025, followed by crude, with 145.9mn t, and soybean shipments, with 116mn t, according to Antaq.
The Ponta da Madeira maritime terminal, owned by Brazilian mining company Vale and the main departure point for iron ore exports, topped cargo volumes in January-August with 110.4mn t, accounting for 12pc of cargo handling in national ports. The Santos port, Brazil's largest, placed second, with 93.7mn t of cargo handled in the period, 10pc of the total volume and making it the main destination for grain trade flows.
