By Redação PortalPortuario
Port movement in August in Brazil, the first month after the new tariffs imposed by the American government came into effect, was 7.8% higher than that recorded in the same period last year. The cargo transported between January and August was also a record, reaching 914.8 million in the year’s cumulative total, a growth of 2.8% compared to the 2024 numbers.
The information from the Waterway Statistician of the National Waterway Transportation Agency (Antaq) confirms the change in routes caused by the restrictions imposed by the United States and shows that the country knew how to adjust to the tariff hike. Exports grew 3.2% in the month compared to August 2024. There was a sharp increase in exports to India (volume 348% higher), Mexico (97%), Argentina (50%) and China (12%), our largest trading partner, and a 17% drop in the volume exported to the United States.
“The record in cargo movement in the country’s ports, together 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 is reflected in the increase in employment and 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 higher in private terminals (11%), but the public port that had 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 total for 2025, Itajaí has already doubled the movement of the entire last year, reaching 2.5 million tons.
There was also a record in long-haul transportation (export and import), reaching 95.4 million tons, in cabotage transportation (between Brazilian ports), with 28.2 million tons, and also in inland transportation (between river ports), reaching 8.1 million tons.
By cargo type, the highest growth recorded in August was in liquid bulk (25%), a record volume for the month (32.5 million tons). Only in oil and derivatives, 22.5 million tons passed through Brazilian ports in August, a growth of 33.4% compared to the same month last 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).
