The last ship from the Port of Pecém, in Ceará, bound for the United States before the 50% tariff on Brazilian products takes effect, departed this Tuesday (August 5). Given the potential economic impact of the measure on the state of Ceará, questions have been raised about whether shipping routes that include the port will also be affected due to a possible drop in exports.
Augusto Fernandes, CEO of JM Negócios Aduaneiros, a company specializing in customs clearance and international freight, fears that a possible future consequence of the tariff hike could be a reduction in the route.
“The cargo flow is what enables ships to dock here. If we lose that flow, how would carriers maintain the route to the United States if there’s no demand? It’s very costly for the entire international trade ecosystem; it takes years to establish such a route,” he said.
However, the Port of Pecém has ruled out the possibility of discontinuing the route. Another expert believes it is still too early to predict a reduction.
Current routes from Pecém
The Port of Pecém currently has four long-haul container routes: two to Europe, one to Asia, and one to the United States.
The U.S. route, known as the “Tango Service,” is not operated by a fixed ship and runs, on average, once a week, according to port authorities.
The days of the voyages vary depending on tides, port schedules, and other factors.
Below is a historical overview of container exports via the Port of Pecém starting from January 2022. The chart was created using DataLiner data:
Container Exports via Port of Pecém | Jan 2022 to May 2025 | TEU
Source: DataLiner (Click here to request a demo)
Expert says routes likely to continue after steel exemption
Ana Rita Freitas, coordinator of the Foreign Trade program at the University of Fortaleza (Unifor), says it’s too soon to expect a reduction in sailings between the United States and the Port of Pecém. “If we consider steel, the scenario in June remains unchanged. In terms of container ships, carriers are concerned because, at least in the short term, there may be a drop due to the uncertainty,” she noted.
“But it’s still early. All of these points are still under negotiation. That said, shippers’ concerns are valid,” Ana Rita added.
She noted that in June, the U.S. had already announced a tariff on steel from all countries except the United Kingdom. “With this new exemption, our steel remains competitive in the market and continues to be our main export product,” she explained.
She also emphasized that Ceará imports products from the United States via the same route.
“The tariff hike is still under negotiation; there are still issues to be evaluated,” she said, adding that it’s also important to look for other markets that could emerge in this context.
“We can and should explore other destination countries for our products,” she emphasized.
Ana Rita Freitas also pointed out that container ships differ from bulk carriers used for transporting steel.
Upcoming ships
On July 27, the container ship Wieland, flying the Portuguese flag, departed from the port in Ceará carrying local products. It is expected to arrive at the Port of New York on Tuesday (August 5).
On Wednesday (August 6), the Monte Linzor (flying the Singaporean flag) is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Pecém, coming from Rio de Janeiro. After stopping in Pecém, it will head to the United States. This will be the last vessel to leave Ceará before the tariff takes effect, which is expected to begin on August 7.
Despite the nine-day transit time between Pecém and the Port of New York, under Donald Trump’s decree, products shipped within seven days of the announcement are exempt from the tariff, even if they arrive after August 7.
Products on board the vessel bound for the U.S. include fish, coconut water, cashew nuts, bovine leather, footwear, yams, lobster, mangoes, acerola, melons, honey, and others.
Source: Diário do Nordeste
