Cargo movement in Brazilian ports in August, the first month after the new tariffs imposed by the US government came into effect, was 7.8?% higher than that recorded in the same period last year.
The cargo transported between January and August also reached a record, totaling 914.8 million tons in the annual cumulative, representing a growth of 2.8?% compared to the 2024 numbers.
Data from the Waterway Statistical Agency of the National Waterway Transportation Agency (Antaq) confirm the change in routes caused by the restrictions imposed by the United States and demonstrate that the country was able to adapt to the tariff increase. Exports grew by 3.2?% in the month compared to August 2024. A strong increase was recorded in exports to India (348?% more), Mexico (97?%), Argentina (50?%), and China (12?%), our main trading partner, while the volume exported to the United States fell by 17?%.
“The record in cargo movement in the country’s ports, along with the increase in product exports, reinforces Brazil’s interest in other international markets. We are working to further expand the volume of cargo in the waterway mode, as this translates into more employment and more income for the Brazilian people,” highlighted the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho.
According to data from the regulatory agency, the growth in August was greater in private terminals (11?%), but the public port with the highest increase in the month was Itajaí, in Santa Catarina (412?%), due to the resumption of activities by the Federal Government. In the cumulative for 2025, Itajaí has already doubled the movement of the entire last year, reaching 2.5 million tons.
Records were also set in long-haul transportation (export and import), with 95.4 million tons; in cabotage transportation (between Brazilian ports), with 28.2 million tons; and in inland transportation (between river ports), with 8.1 million tons.
By type of cargo, the highest growth recorded in August was in liquid bulk (25?%), with a record volume for the month of 32.5 million tons. In oil and derivatives alone, Brazilian ports mobilized 22.5 million tons in August, an increase of 33.4?% compared to the same month the previous year.
The report also points to an 11.3?% growth in iron ore exports in August (42.2 million tons) and a 3.4?% growth in corn exports (10.7 million tons).
